Posted at 6:46 a.m., Saturday, October 27, 2007
Basketball: U.S, women fall in FIBA World League final
Associated Press
EKATERINBURG, Russia — The U.S. women's select team lost to CSKA Moscow 75-65 today in the final of the FIBA World League tournament.Maria Stepanova and Ilona Korstin each scored 16 points for CSKA Moscow.
Janel McCarville led the U.S. with 18 points and nine rebounds. Diana Taurasi, who had 25 points in the semifinal victory over host UMMC Ekaterinburg on Friday, was held to five points in the championship game.
The U.S. beat CSKA Moscow 81-72 in a preliminary game Friday, but this time the Russian squad pounded the ball inside against a small American squad missing most of its post players from the team that qualified for the Olympics at the FIBA Americas tournament in Chile last month.
Ann Wauters added 11 points and 15 rebounds for CSKA Moscow.
CSKA Moscow held a 40-34 halftime edge before Stepanova took over. She scored six points during an 8-0 run to start the second half and extend the lead to 48-34.
The U.S. responded with an 11-4 run to close within seven, but got no closer.
UMMC Ekaterinburg routed China 91-69 in the bronze medal game.
