USF Athletics

Laksa, Latvia Finish World Cup with Loss to USA

September 25, 2018

Box Score
FIBA World Cup Schedule
FIBA Latvia Roster
Laksa's FIBA Profile       
 
TENERIFE, Spain, Sept 25, 2018 –Senior USF women's basketball player Kitija Laksa from Riga, Latvia, played with her home country of Latvia against the reigning FIBA Women's World Cup champions USA on Tuesday, dropping a 102-76 decision. 
 
Laksa contributed 12 points in almost 30 minutes of action to Latvia, on a 4-of-9 clip from the field including two treys. Latvia was just 10 points behind USA at half time, but a 17-0 run from the Americans and an eight-point quarter for the Latvians doomed the European country in its first ever debut in the World Cup. 
 
Kitija Laksa matched the likes of A'Ja Wilson, and Breanna Stewart, who added 12 points to USA's total in the contest. Diana Taurasi, Brittney Griner, Jewell Lloyd and Kelsey Plum also made appearances for Team USA for Laksa to defend. 
 
Every four years, the FIBA Women's Basketball World Cup brings together the 16 best teams from across FIBA's four regions, Africa, Americas, Asia and Europe. This is  the 18^thWorld Cup and is regarded as the biggest international women's basketball competition. 
 
This is the first time in Latvia's history the European country has qualified for the World Cup, after finishing in sixth place at the EuroBasket in 2017. Laksa and Latvia played three games in the World Cup in the group stage, falling in back-to-back last-minute situations to both China and Senegal over the weekend, before rounding out the group stage with reigning World Cup champion USA today. 
 
Latvia was eliminated following their double losses on the weekend and will return home to Riga, with World Cup dreams still in tact for 2022. 
 
About Kitija Laksa 
With USF, Laksa broke the junior scoring record with 717 points in her junior season. She set two NCAA records in 2017-18, including free-throw percentage with 96.5 percent efficiency, and consecutive three-pointers made in a game with 11 on Dec. 15, 2017. The Riga, Latvia native averaged 21.1 points per game on the year and returns in 2018-19 as the Bulls' leading scorer for her senior season. 
 
Laksa currently ranks sixth in program history on the all-time scoring list, amassing 1,715 points in her career. She will chase the all-time scoring record at USF in 2018-19, currently held by Jessica Dickson (2003-07) with 2,402 points. 
 
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USF notched its sixth consecutive 20-win season and fourth straight NCAA Tournament appearance in 2017-18. It marked the ninth 20-win season in program history, with head coach Jose Fernandez at the helm for all nine. The Bulls posted 26 wins in 2017-18, just shy of the program record of 27 set in 2008-09 and 2014-15. 
 
USF has made 14 postseason tournament appearances and had six NCAA Tournament berths in head coach Jose Fernandez's 18 seasons. The all-time winningestcoach in program history, Fernandez has guided USF to nine 20-win seasons, two WNIT final four appearances, the 2009 WNIT championship and won more than 300 games.