GWANGJU, South Korea -- Northwestern head women's basketball coach Joe McKeown continues his stint with USA Basketball this week as the leader of the 2015 World University Games women's basketball team in Gwangju, South Korea, the City of Light.
McKeown and the USA moved through pool play with a spotless 3-0 record. The team, which features 12 of the top players from around the United States, defeated Italy in its opener, 80-62, in game that was televised back home on ESPNU. The next day at the Dongkang College Gymnasium, the World University Games Team toppled China, 90-75, in other televised tilt. The third game pitted the Red, White and Blue against another undeated team in Group B, the Czech Republic. McKeown's group roared out to a 30-15 lead after one quarter, and it never looked back. The United States shot 55 percent against the Czechs, while its defense limited the opponent to 28 percent in a 92-54 rout.
"It's really what we're here for," said McKeown after the game when asked about winning Group B. "Each round gets tougher as you go, but we've been very businesslike, especially today against the Czech Republic. We want to keep that approach every day as we move forward into the next rounds."
As the winner of Group B, the United States will square off against the second-place team from Group A, Hungary, on Thursday, July 9. Those two countries have not faced off in women's basketball at the World University Games since 1991 when the USA won a 104-89 decision en route to a gold medal in Sheffield, England. The oldest player on this year's team, Chanise Jenkins of DePaul, was not born until 1992.
The game against Hungary will once again be televised live in the United States Thursday on ESPNU (7:30 a.m. EDT/6:30 a.m. CDT). It will be the last game on the docket Thursday evening (local time) at 8:30 p.m. from Dongkang College. It is also scheduled to stream on FISU.tv.
Hungary's only loss in the group portion of the tournament came in double overtime at the hands of former Northwestern Wildcat Karly Roser and her Canadian squad on Sunday, July 5. Roser and Team Canada also won all three group games and it will play against the Czech Republic in the quarterfinals on Thursday.
For an in-depth look at each of the three World University Games, including recaps, quotes and photos, please click these USA Basketball links:
July 5 - Italy
July 6 - China
July 7 - Czech Republic
McKeown and the USA moved through pool play with a spotless 3-0 record. The team, which features 12 of the top players from around the United States, defeated Italy in its opener, 80-62, in game that was televised back home on ESPNU. The next day at the Dongkang College Gymnasium, the World University Games Team toppled China, 90-75, in other televised tilt. The third game pitted the Red, White and Blue against another undeated team in Group B, the Czech Republic. McKeown's group roared out to a 30-15 lead after one quarter, and it never looked back. The United States shot 55 percent against the Czechs, while its defense limited the opponent to 28 percent in a 92-54 rout.
"It's really what we're here for," said McKeown after the game when asked about winning Group B. "Each round gets tougher as you go, but we've been very businesslike, especially today against the Czech Republic. We want to keep that approach every day as we move forward into the next rounds."
As the winner of Group B, the United States will square off against the second-place team from Group A, Hungary, on Thursday, July 9. Those two countries have not faced off in women's basketball at the World University Games since 1991 when the USA won a 104-89 decision en route to a gold medal in Sheffield, England. The oldest player on this year's team, Chanise Jenkins of DePaul, was not born until 1992.
The game against Hungary will once again be televised live in the United States Thursday on ESPNU (7:30 a.m. EDT/6:30 a.m. CDT). It will be the last game on the docket Thursday evening (local time) at 8:30 p.m. from Dongkang College. It is also scheduled to stream on FISU.tv.
Hungary's only loss in the group portion of the tournament came in double overtime at the hands of former Northwestern Wildcat Karly Roser and her Canadian squad on Sunday, July 5. Roser and Team Canada also won all three group games and it will play against the Czech Republic in the quarterfinals on Thursday.
For an in-depth look at each of the three World University Games, including recaps, quotes and photos, please click these USA Basketball links:
July 5 - Italy
July 6 - China
July 7 - Czech Republic