Aug. 2, 2009

DEKALB, Ill. - Northern Illinois University head women's basketball coach Carol Owens, the head coach of USA Basketball's U19 National Team, gave new meaning to the term, "Going for the gold," when she captured her fourth-straight gold medal after leading USA's Basketball's U19 National Team to an 87-71 victory over Spain in the championship game of the 2009 FIBA U19 World Championship for Women in Bangkok, Thailand Sunday.

"It's a great honor to win the gold for a great basketball country like the USA," Owens said. "Our focus and attention was always where it had to be. We knew they (Spain) would fight back. I think we did well to hold our composure together."

Owens led Team USA to gold at the 2008 FIBA Americas Championship for Women as head coach of USA Basketball's U18 National Team and was an assistant on the gold-medal winning teams at the 2007 U19 World Championship for Women and at the 2006 FIBA Americas U18 Championship.

Sunday's victory over Spain avenged the American's only loss in the tournament and gave Team USA its third-straight gold medal at the FIBA U19 World Championship for Women.

"I think this team is a lot better today than we were the first time we played Spain," she said. "There certainly were moments today when we played our best basketball of the tournament."

Nnemkadi Ogwumike and Samantha Prahalis, who was celebrating her 18th birthday Sunday, led the way for Team USA. Ogwumike turned in a double-double, scoring 22 points and grabbing 20 boards, while Phrahalis finished with 21 points, scoring 11 in the first half.

-NIU-