UConn All-American Bria Hartley, Notre Dame All-American Skylar Diggins, Stanford All-American Chiney Ogwumike and former UConn standout Ann Strother combined to defeat France 17-16 today in the gold medal game of the inaugural FIBA 3×3 World Championships for Women in Athens, Greece. The U.S. (9-0) defeated Australia 19-18 in the semifinals earlier today.
Here is what Hartley and Strother had to say after the game (courtesy USA Basketball) …
Bria Hartley
Q: You won a FIBA U19 World Championship and now a FIBA 3×3 World Championship. How does it feel to be a two-time world champion?
A: “It feels good. The feeling doesn’t change. The 3×3 is new to me, and new to a lot of us, to come out here and win that, especially in that game, it was really close and a tough game coming back from down 7-2. I think it was all about pride. I remember being on the court and being like, `Guys, we’ve got to win this,’ and we turned it around.’’
Q: Your team got down early, but you never gave up. What does that say about your team?
A: “We’re players that are competitive. Skylar, I’ve been playing against her plenty of times, and Chiney, we’re just really competitive. This entire trip, there are only four of us. We all became really close being together all that time on the court. We were able to talk to each other and tell each other what we need to do. I think we knew we had to buckle down, and we looked each other in the eye and said, `Let’s go, let’s turn this around, let’s step up defensively.’ That’s what we did and we picked it up on offense as well.’’
Q: What did you learn at the 3x3s that can help your game this year at Connecticut?
A: “Definitely half-court stuff, getting to the basket. I think this game is a lot more physical because of how you have to finish around the rim. I think this will help when I go back to play at UConn.’’
Q: What will you remember most about this experience?
A: “I think that this is the first-ever 3×3 World Championship. To be the first-ever world champions, not only for the USA, but the first-ever for any country, I think says a lot and is something to remember as you get old.’’
Ann Strother
Q: You won a bronze medal at the 2001 FIBA U19 World Championship and a silver medal at the 2003 Pan American Games. Now you have a FIBA 3×3 World Championship gold medal. How did it feel to stand on top of the podium with the gold medal around your neck?
A: “It feels great. It feels like it finally ended the way it was supposed to. It’s been great to be here and play with these guys and win a gold medal with USA Basketball.’’
Q: You had to fight through both games today, does that make the gold medal sweeter?
A: “Absolutely, I think when you’re in a situation where you really have to fight for it, it makes it even sweeter. I think it would have been a letdown had it been too easy. France was tough, Australia was tough, and really every team competed and played hard. It definitely made it sweeter.’’
Q: Your team got down early today, but you never gave up. What does that say about your team?
A: “They’re incredible competitors. I think at 7-2, in a game like this, you can come back as easily as hitting two (two-pointers). You can’t ever get down, there’s not time to think about being down, or worry about the score. It was fast and fun and great.’’
Q: What will you remember most about this experience?
A: “All of it, really. The gold medal definitely stands out. For me, I feel like I haven’t been able to play at this level and with players that are this good for a while. It was so much fun to be playing at this level again. Maybe this is the last time I step on the court in this competitive atmosphere, and to end with a gold medal in the World Championship, I don’t think it gets much sweeter than that.’’
Rich
