SAMARA, RUSSIA, Oct. 15 -- The WNBA Select team scored first and never lost the lead as the WNBA beat Sao Paulo (Brazil) 87-62 in the team’s second game of the 2003 FIBA Women’s World Cup.

Marie Ferdinand scored the first points and was the game’s high scorer with 21 points. Ferdinand was three of three for two-point field goals in the first quarter, leading the WNBA team with eight points. Sao Paulo started slowly and only managed 11 points on 23 percent shooting to the WNBA’s 22 at the end of the first 10 minutes.

Ruth Riley and Tiffani Johnson battle for a rebound in the Day Two Photo Gallery. (WNBAE/Getty Images)

Adrian Williams led WNBA scorers in the second quarter with six points in addition to three rebounds. Michelle Snow and LaToya Thomas pulled down three rebounds each to keep the U.S. team ahead, even as Sao Paulo’s field goal percentage in the second quarter improved to 33 percent. Sao Paulo was led by Houston Comets guard Janeth Arcain, who had 12 points and seven rebounds in the second half. Nikki Teasley ended the second half with an awe-inspiring spin move to the basket, and the teams went to the locker room at the half with the WNBA Select team leading Sao Paulo 44-26.

Sao Paulo had its strongest performance in the third quarter, outscoring the WNBA Select team 23-22. Despite the strong push by Sao Paulo, Marie Ferdinand scored six points and Nikki Teasley drained consecutive three-pointers to keep the WNBA in the lead. At the end of the third quarter, the WNBA Select team led 66-49.

In the fourth quarter, the WNBA defense again slowed Sao Paulo who managed only 13 points to the U.S. team’s 21. Rebounding was again a key factor for the WNBA Select team as they ended the game with a 52-43 edge over Sao Paulo on the boards.

Arcain had a double-double in the game, ending with 20 points and 10 rebounds. Arcain’s Comets teammate Tiffani Johnson also played for Sao Paulo, adding six points and four rebounds. In the end, though, the WNBA Select team had too much size and firepower for Sao Paulo, and the game ended with the WNBA on top 87-66 for the team’s second consecutive win in the 2003 FIBA Women’s World Cup.

Leading Scorers for WNBA: Marie Ferdinand (21), LaToya Thomas (14), Nikki Teasley & Adrian Williams (12)
Leading Scorers for Sao Paulo: Janeth Arcain (20), Katia Da Silva (12), Palmira Marchal (8)

Leading Rebounders for WNBA: LaToya Thomas (9), Adrian Williams (7), Cheryl Ford & Michelle Snow (6)
Leading Rebounders for Sao Paulo: Janeth Arcain and Katia Da Silva (10), Karla Costa (4)

Starters for WNBA: Nikki Teasley, Marie Ferdinand, LaToya Thomas, Adrian Williams, Ruth Riley
Starters for Sao Paulo: Palmira Marchal, Janeth Arcain, Karla Costa, Katia Da Silva, Tiffani Johnson

Marie Ferdinand at the Postgame Press Conference: Q: What are your thoughts on the tournament thus far? A: "I like the tournament because it shows how far women's basketball has come. The competition is very intense. Also, we like being in Samara. It is a very nice city." Q: Do you think you will win the tournament? A: "If we don't win, we will be sad. We want to win and we expect to win, but there are a lot of good players in the tournament and we know it won't be given to us." Q: What are your plans after the tournament is over? A: "I am staying here in Samara and playing for the team here (Volgaburmash-Samara). I will be playing here for two months and then I am going home for Christmas. I'm not sure of my plans after that."

Highlights from Other WNBA Players in Action:

Jackson

Wauters

Lauren Jackson (Seattle Storm) followed up her 26-point opening day performance with 24 points in game two. It was not enough, however, as Jackson’s Canberra Capitals fell to USVO Valenciennes 89-68. Allison Feaster (Charlotte Sting) had 16 points and seven rebounds in the win, and former WNBA top draft pick Ann Wauters (Cleveland Rockers ’02) was the game’s leading scorer with 26 points.

Milton

Swoopes

With five WNBA players scoring in double digits, UMMC Ekaterinburg defeated Wooribank Hansae by a score of 96-56 on Wednesday. Svetlana Abrosimova (Minnesota Lynx) and Andrea Stinson (Charlotte Sting) had 11, Sheryl Swoopes (Houston Comets) had 12, Natalie Williams (Indiana Fever) had 13, and DeLisha Milton (Los Angeles Sparks) had 15. Williams, Milton and Stinson also had five rebounds apiece, and Ticha Penicheiro (Saramento Monarchs) contributed five rebounds. In her first game of the World Cup, DeMya Walker (Sacramento Monarchs) posted 26 points for Wooribank Hansae in the loss.