Shenzhen, China • August 14-21, 2011

Led by Iowa State head coach Bill Fennelly, the 2011 USA World University Games Team traveled to Shenzhen, China, with one goal: defend the USA’s title and bring home the country’s eighth gold medal in the history of the event.

The U.S. not only achieved its goal, the American women dominated their opponents en route to a sterling 6-0 record. The deep squad, which saw four players average in double digits, outscored its opponents by a whopping 45.0 points a game and won the overall battle on the glass by a margin of 22.8 rebounds per game.

Playing in her first international event, Delaware’s Elena Delle Donne led the squad in scoring and rebounding after averaging 15.7 ppg. and 8.5 rpg.; Stanford’s Nneka Ogwumike posted 13.2 ppg. and 5.7 rpg.; Notre Dame’s Skylar Diggins added 12.3 ppg., 4.8 apg. and 3.3 spg.; while Diggins’ UND teammate Devereaux Peters contributed 10.0 ppg. to go with her 5.3 rpg.; and Stanford’s Chiney Ogwumike added 9.5 ppg.

Racing out to a 25-6 first-quarter lead, the U.S. never looked back as it posted an impressive 112-53 opening victory over Brazil with Delle Donne scoring a game-high 17 points to lead five players in double digit scoring.

All 12 USA players scored at least six points each as Diggins, Nneka Ogwumike and Peters chipped in 14 points apiece to lead the USA past Slovakia 114-68 in its second game.

The Americans separated from Great Britain early and rolled to an 85-33 win as Diggins had game-bests of 13 points, four assists and six steals.

Facing Finland in the quarterfinals, the red, white and blue opened the game with a 21-0 scoring spree and never let up, securing a 96-30 win. Five U.S. players scored in double digits with Delle Donne and Peters recording a high of 17 each.

In a game between the top two teams in the tournament, Delle Donne had a 22-point, 11-rebound double-double to lead the U.S. into the gold medal game with a 79-67 semifinal victory over rival Australia. The USA took an early lead, but the Aussies were never far behind, and it took a 9-0 spurt to open the fourth quarter to distance the teams for good.

With its toughest foe behind them, the American women ran away from Taiwan early and cruised to a 101-66 gold medal victory behind Nneka Ogwumike’s 24 points, nine rebounds and four assists; while Delle Donne came close to a triple-double with 18 points, 11 boards and eight assists.

The gold medal marked the fourth straight for the U.S. in the last four WUGs in which USA Basketball entered a team.

Australia earned the bronze medal with a 66-56 defeat of Sweden.

2011 USA WOMEN'S WORLD UNIVERSITY GAMES TEAM ROSTER

2011 USA WOMEN'S WORLD UNIVERSITY GAMES TEAM CUMULATIVE STATISTICS