Marsala, Sicily, Italy • August 21-29, 1997

Outscoring its opponents by an average of 40.5 points per game, the 1997 USA Women's World University Games Team roared to a 6-0 record and the gold medal in Sicily, Italy.

The USA opened its bid for its first gold medal at this competition since 1991 with an impressive, wire-to-wire, 103-30 win over Latvia. In the win, La'Keshia Frett led four scorers in double figures with 14 points, and the U.S. defense forced 40 steals.

In a game that experienced two power outages due to bad weather, the USA never lost power en route to an 88-50 win over South Korea in its second contest. Nykesha Sales scored a game high 19 points and Kara Wolters gathered a game high 11 rebounds.

In its third and final preliminary round game, the USA ran to a lopsided 110-32 win over Turkey, rounding out the squad's preliminary round play with a 3-0 record. Wolters led all scorers and rebounders with 22 points and 10 boards.

In a game that saw 13 lead changes and five ties, Sales scored 15 of her team high 17 points in the second half as the USA defeated Russia 78-70 in its quarterfinal game. Sales was 6 of 9 from the field in the second stanza, and her baskets on consecutive possessions with 13:05 and 12:36 to play in the game gave the U.S. a lead it never relinquished.

The USA advanced into the gold medal game after an 84-56 semifinals win over the previously unbeaten Czech Republic. Wolters keyed the win with a game high 14-point, 10-rebound, five-blocked shot effort.

The U.S., which never trailed in the gold medal game against Cuba, opened the contest with a 25-7 run and rolled on to a 100-82 victory. Sales got her squad running by scoring the first seven points of the game, helping the Americans convert 16 of their first 22 field goal attempts. The USA defense, meanwhile, was stifling. Cuba was able to hit just two of its first 11 shots from the floor and the United States opened its largest lead of the game, 43-15, with 7:40 to play in the first half when Sales hit a layup, was fouled, and converted the ensuing free throw.

Cuba made a late run, cutting the USA's lead to nine points, 81-72, with 6:45 to play as the Americans were held scoreless for 5:07 and the Cubans went on an 8-0 run in that stretch. But forward Olympia Scott cashed in a layup with 5:19 remaining to end the U.S. scoring drought and down the stretch the USA outscored Cuba 20-8 to lock up the gold medal.

Sales scored a USA World University Games gold medal game record 32 points against Cuba, which also marked the third best scoring output ever by an American at the World University Games. In addition to Sales' effort, DeLisha Milton added 20 points in the USA's 100-82 gold medal victory.

In the bronze medal contest, the Czech Republic cruised past host Italy 69-37.

1997 USA WOMEN'S WORLD UNIVERSITY GAMES ROSTER