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Sept. 15, 2006
SAO PAULO, Brazil – Virginia women’s basketball junior Aisha Mohammed (Lagos, Nigeria) scored 11 points for Nigeria as the Lady Tigers fell to China, 71-59, in the final game of the preliminary round of the 2006 World Championships on Thursday.
While Nigeria has been eliminated from advancing, the Lady Tigers will compete in the classification round to determine world ranking. Nigeria will face Chinese Taipei on Sept. 16.
The forward also contributed a team-high four rebounds in 10 minutes of action. Teammate Itoro Umoh paced the Lady Tigers with 14 points, followed Mfon Sunday Udoka who added 13 points.
“Anyone who has participated in a competition knows how much it hurts to lose,” said Kevin Cook, Nigeria’s head coach and an assistant coach with the WNBA’s Houston Comets. “I would like to congratulate Tom Maher and his team for the excellent work they did and for the progress they made. It was an excellent game. I am very proud of Nigeria, and I think you will be seeing us a lot in the forthcoming years.”
“It was an excellent game. Nigeria is a very strong team, and their performance in the rebounds was a problem for us,” said Tom Maher, China’s head coach. “The team is much more closed than it was in the Olympic Games. Itoro Umoh played very well and was very efficient in the counter-attacks. This was also a major obstacle. I think the result was fair. We could not have won by a much bigger difference.”
In Wednesday’s 79-46 loss to the USA, Mohammed came off the bench for five rebounds and three free throws.
“I think we got a good notion of what it is to face some of the best basketball teams in the world. China taught us that today. It was an excellent game and I am sure all of us did out best,” said Olayinka Sanni, Nigeria’s pivot.
NIGERIA 59
Umoh (14), Mohammed (11), Udoka (13), Izidor (10) and Olarenwaju (2). Then:Ogunoye (0), Akiode (0), Okorie (0), Nwagbo (0), Sanni (9) and Oha (0).
CHINA 71
Song (6), Miao (22), Ren (6), X. Zhang (0) and N. Chen (13). Then: Bian (2), Jia (0), Sui (2), X. Chen (20), Liu (0) and X. Zhang (0).
2006 FIBA World Championship for Women
Sao Paulo, Brazil
Schedule/Results
PRELIMINARY ROUND
Tuesday, Sept. 12
Spain 87, Korea 57France 62, Czech Republic 58Brazil 71, Argentina 69Russia 84, Nigeria 50Cuba 75, Chinese Taipei 70Canada 65, Senegal 64USA 119, China 72Australia 2, Lithuania 0
Wednesday, Sept. 13Argentina 77, Spain 64France 100, Chinese Taipei 68Brazil 106, Korea 86Russia 86, China 66Lithuania 84, Canada 58Czech Republic 73, Cuba 51Australia 95, Senegal 55USA 79, Nigeria 46
Thursday, Sept. 14Argentina 73, Korea 64Czech Republic 72, Chinese Taipei 72Spain 67, Brazil 66Cuba 74, France 73Lithuania 74, Senegal 63USA 90, Russia 80Australia 65, Canada 65China 71, Nigeria 59
CLASSIFICATIONS (13-16)
Saturday, Sept. 16
Game 29- Nigeria vs. Chinese TaipeiGame 26- Korea vs. Senegal
Sunday, Sept. 17
Loser Game 26 vs. Loser Game 29Winner Game 26 vs. Winner Game 29
STANDINGS
Team Pct. W L Pts.For Pts.Ag
Group A1. Argentina 66,7 2 1 219 1992. Brazil 66.7 2 1 243 2223. Spain 66.7 2 1 218 2004. Korea 0.0 0 3 207 266
Group B1. Australia 100.0 3 0 194 1202. Lithuania 66.7 2 1 158 1233. Canada 33.3 1 2 188 2454. Senegal 0.0 0 3 182 234
Group C1. USA 100.0 3 0 288 1982. Russia 66.7 2 1 250 2063. China 33.3 1 2 209 2644. Nigeria 0.0 0 3 155 234
Group D1. Czech Rep. 66.7 2 1 224 1852. France 66.7 2 1 235 2043. Cuba 66.7 1 3 204 2164. Chi. Taipei 0.0 0 3 210 268