SAMARA, Russia, Oct. 19 -- The WNBA Select team fought back from 20-point deficit to tie the score late in the fourth quarter, but time eventually ran out on the young team as it took second place in the 2003 FIBA Women's World Cup. The winner was the tournament host and hometown favorite, Volgaburmash-Samara (Russia), which posted a 72-68 victory over the WNBA team.
Samara's starting lineup included three players with WNBA experience: Mwadi Mabika of the Los Angeles Sparks, Kamila Vodichkova of the Seattle Storm and Phoenix Mercury center Maria Stepanova, who did not play in the league last season.
 Teasley |
In the second quarter Samara turned up the heat on offense, making 8 of 12 field goals. Although Teasley poured in another five points and Marie Ferdinand and Cheryl Ford added four each, the WNBA team was not able to keep up Samara's accuracy. Weak rebounding also hurt the WNBA team in the second as the squad managed only four to Samara's nine. At the half, Samara led 42-26, and it didn't look as if the WNBA Select team was going to make up a serious challenge for the World Cup championship.
Out of halftime, quick points by Samara kept the team with a double-digit lead and at the five-minute mark in the third quarter, the team posted its biggest lead of the night at 55-35. But the never-say-die attitude of the WNBA Select players brought the team roaring back with a stepped up defensive effort that forced Samara into turnovers and limited the team's shots to only nine compared to the WNBA's 20 in the third quarter. At the end of the third, six WNBA players had put points on the board to close Samara's lead nine points at 60-51.
Teasley had been the star for the WNBA team all night, and she had 15 points, six assists and three rebounds at the end of the third quarter. Teasley started the fourth quarter with more of the same, scoring four points and bringing the WNBA team to within five.
With only 2½ minutes gone in the fourth, though, Teasley took an elbow that caused a contusion on her forehead. The shot took Teasley out of the game, but the WNBA team continued to edge closer to Samara, getting to within four. In a gusty move, Teasley checked back into the game with a fully bandaged head and only 3:13 left in the game.
LaToya Thomas hit a crucial three and then Ford banked it off the glass for two points as the WNBA tied the score 66-66 with 1:30 to go. Two consecutive fouls by the WNBA team and four made free throws –- two each by Vodichkova and Mabika –- sealed the fate of the WNBA-ers as time ran out.
Leading scorers for the WNBA: Nikki Teasley (21), Cheryl Ford (15), Marie Ferdinand (11)
Leading scorers for Samara: Maria Stepanova (17), Mwadi Mabika (16), Kamila Vodichkova (13)
Leading rebounders for the WNBA: Cheryl Ford (6), Kara Lawson (5), Michelle Snow (5), Adrian Williams(5)
Leading rebounders with Samara: Maria Stepanova (16), Kamila Vodichkova (9), Mwadi Mabika (6)
 Williams |
 Swoopes |
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Janeth Arcain posted 29 points, nine rebounds, six assists and three steals for the Brazilians, and her Houston Comets teammate, Tiffani Johnson, added 18 points and seven boards.
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