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Duquesne University Athletics

Team Canada won silver in the World University Games

Women's Basketball

Agunbiade, Canada Claim Silver Medal at World University Games

July 13, 2015

GWANGJU, South Korea (Team Canada) - Former Duquesne forward Wumi Agunbiade and the Canadian women's basketball fell in their first ever World University Games final 82-63 to the United States.

Canada's silver medal is the program's best result at the games. Prior to today, their highest finish was a bronze medal on two occasions in 1979 (Mexico City) and 1991 (Sheffield, England).

"I am tremendously proud of our girls and their performance at these games," said head coach Fabian McKenzie. "Our first silver medal at the Universiade is a huge step for our program. I have had a wonderful summer with these young ladies, and this truly has been phenomenal."

The game started close, but the tables turned in favor of the USA in the second quarter, as Canada struggled with turnovers and rebounds. Defensively, the USA built up 20 defensive rebounds and six blocked shots in the first half to lead 31-23 heading into the break.

Canada came alive in the third going on a 10-4 run in the first three minutes to make it a two point game. The red and white played a smart ten minutes and were neck and neck with the Americans, outscoring them 22-17 in the frame.

However, in the fourth, the US rode a wave of experience and used their size in the paint and outside scoring ability to build a twenty point lead that the Canadians could not recover.

"The difference was their ability to get the ball in the paint and to run the floor," McKenzie continued. "We didn't stop them from doing that and our offensive execution kind of died in the fourth quarter, and that really hurt us."

Canada was led by Ajax, Ont. native Dakota Whyte with 20 points, while Adut Bulgak had the team's only double-double with 15 points and 16 rebounds.

For the event, Canada finished 5-1. They won Group A and defeated Czech Republic and Russia en route to the championship game.

Agunbiade finished the event with 28 points (4.7 ppg) and 18 rebounds (3.0 rpg).

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Players Mentioned

Wumi Agunbiade

#10 Wumi Agunbiade

Forward
6' 2"
Junior

Players Mentioned

Wumi Agunbiade

#10 Wumi Agunbiade

6' 2"
Junior
Forward

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