July 20, 2005

COLLEGE PARK, Md. - Maryland's Shay Doron scored 21 points in the championship game of the Maccabi Games, leading the U.S. team to a gold medal with a 78-53 win over host Israel. Soon to be a junior on the Terrapin women's basketball team, she was also named Most Valuable Player of the tournament.

A Kodak/WBCA Region II All-American in 2005, Doron (Great Neck, N.Y./Christ the King) was also MVP of the Division B European Championship earlier this month when she led the Israeli Under-20 National Team to a perfect 6-0 mark and the country's first-ever tournament title for a women's team when it won gold.

The Americans went undefeated at the Maccabi Games, coasting to victories over Canada (67-43) and Australia (83-62) in the first stage of the tournament but narrowly defeated Israel on July 14, 64-61. After topping the Canadians, 72-31, to advance to the gold medal game, the Americans wasted no time taking control of the game in a rematch vs. the Israelis. Doron scored or assisted on the USA's first six field goals as her team built an early 18-6 lead and owned a 24-7 advantage at the end of the quarter.

Doron, who is one of four starters returning, helped Maryland to a 22-10 record in 2004-05, the most wins for the team since 1992-93. She led the team in scoring with 17.6 points per game and was named first team All-ACC.