March 9, 2006 • Gdynia, Poland

• Last night's statistics

Player of the Game Katie Smith, who led all scorers with 19 points on her former home court, was presented with the Player of the Game trophy by local dignitaries. (Photo: USA Basketball)

The United States escaped with a five-point victory last night over Lotos Gdynia and the American women, who shot just 37 percent last night, will be looking to come out stronger and more accurate tonight.

Both sides will have extra added firepower with DeLisha Milton-Jones (9 points, 4 rebounds) and Agnieszka 'Biba' Bibrzycka (13 points, 3 rebounds, 2 assists) back from the 2006 EuroLeague All-Star Game.

"Well we know that we won't be playing as much zone with Biba coming back for them," said USA and Seattle Storm head coach Anne Donovan. "She's such a deadly outside shooter with tremendous range. It's going to be difficult to play that much zone again. But DeLisha helps us greatly also on the inside, where we struggled at times tonight to make the offense flow. We became a really perimeter-dominated team, where we need to have more of an inside presence. D will help us with that."

"It's going to be nice to have DeLisha back," said USA teammate Diana Taurasi, who hit her only five points last night at a key time. "She brings so much energy and gives us a different dimension that most teams don't really have with a four-man, she can do so much. Obviously they'll have Biba back, who can shoot and is one of the best players in Europe, so it's going to be fun. We got to know them a little better tonight so hopefully tomorrow we can do a better job."

Lotos advanced to the EuroLeague playoffs for the fifth consecutive year, but fell to MiZo-Pécs in the Eighth Finals after taking the best of three series to three games. The squad was led this season by 6-0 guard Bibrzycka (16.5 ppg., 3.8 rpg., 2.1 apg.), while 5-8 guard Gordana Kovacevic (12.9 ppg., 1.7 apg.) and 6-4 center Ewelina Kobryn (10.4 ppg., 7.0 rpg.) also contributed to the squad's success.

Lotos added a pair of Yanks to its roster prior to the EuroLeague playoffs: 2005 WNBA Rookie of the Year Temeka Johnson, the Washington Mystics 5-3 guard, who won a gold medal as a member of the 2003 USA World Championship For Young Women Team. Also added to the Lotos team is 2005 rookie Chelsea Newton, a 5-11 guard, who won the 2005 WNBA title as a member of the Sacramento Monarchs. Both players are still in Gdynia as Lotos is still in the hunt for the Polish League title.

This marks the third time the U.S. has faced Lotos. On March 21, 2004, the USA Senior National Team bested Lotos 86-64 behind 21 points from Tina Thompson, while Tangela Smith was the team's high rebounder (7) and Sue Bird led in assists (5).

Headed by four-time Olympic team member and Seattle Storm head coach Anne Donovan, the U.S. roster is highlighted by five Olympic gold medalists, including 2000 and 2004 Olympian Katie Smith (Detroit Shock), 2000 Olympian Milton-Jones, and 2004 Olympic champs Bird (Seattle Storm), Swin Cash (Detroit Shock) and Taurasi (Phoenix Mercury).

The USA's first European Tour roster also features eight other USA Basketball and internationally experienced athletes, including 2003 FIBA World Championship for Young Women gold medalist Alana Beard (Washington Mystics), who also captured bronze at the 2001 FIBA Junior World Championship and was named to the five-member All-World Championship Team at both events; 2002 World Championship for Young Women Qualifying Tournament gold medalist Kara Braxton (Detroit Shock); 1998 R. William Jones Cup gold medalist Becky Hammon (New York Liberty); Kara Lawson (Sacramento Monarchs), who won a gold medal at the 2001 World University Games and bronze at the 1998 World Youth Games; 2003 FIBA World Championship for Young Women gold medalist Kristen Mann (Minnesota Lynx); 1995 U.S. Olympic Festival participant Chasity Melvin (Washington Mystics); 2003 FIBA World Championship for Young Women and 2002 World Championship for Young Women Qualifying Tournament gold medalist Nicole Ohlde (Minnesota Lynx); and Nicole Powell (Sacramento Monarchs), who won a silver medal at the 2003 Pan American Games and a bronze medal at the 2001 FIBA Junior World Championship.

Donovan is being assisted on the sidelines in Europe by 2006 USA World Championship assistant and WNBA Connecticut Sun head coach Mike Thibault, the only coach known to have served as a coach for a USA Basketball men's and women's team.