Udoka and Nigeria Complete Play in Athens
8/24/2004 12:00:00 AM | WOMEN'S BASKETBALL
CHICAGO – Former DePaul women’s basketball player Mfon Udoka wrapped up her experience at the 2004 Summer Olympics with the Nigerian National Team. Udoka, who played at DePaul from 1994-98, averaged 21.7 points and 10.2 rebounds as Nigeria finished 11th.
In the 11th-12th classification game, she led Nigeria with 21 points and 10 rebounds in the 68-64 win over South Korea. Her best game of the Olympics was against Greece on Wednesday, Aug. 18 as she poured in 28 points with 18 boards. However, it wasn't enough as the Nigeria lost to the host team, 83-68.
She scored 26 points with five rebounds in the opening game against Australia on Saturday, Aug. 14. Despite her strong showing, Nigeria fell to Australia, 85-73. Udoka followed that game with 19 points and 16 boards in a 79-73 loss to Japan on Monday.
Against Russia on Sunday, Aug. 22, Udoka led the Nigerian team with 19 points and five boards. She was the only player to score in double-figures as the Russian team handed Nigeria a 93-58 defeat. In an 82-63 loss to Brazil on Aug. 20, Udoka led her team with 17 points and seven rebounds.
For the six Olympic games, Udoka averaged 21.7 points and 10.2 rebounds per game to rank among leaders in both categories. With two more days of basketball left to play, she ranks second in scoring to Australia's Lauren Jackson and leads all players in rebounding. Her free throw percentage of .825 ranks ninth out of all players.
Udoka made her first Olympic appearance and was also a member of Nigeria’s first Olympic basketball team – men’s or women’s. Though born in Portland, Ore., Udoka’s Nigerian connection comes through her father, Vitalis, who was born in Nigeria.
At DePaul, Udoka was a two-time All-Conference USA honoree while finishing her career with 1,569 points and 1,047 rebounds. Both of those numbers are ranked in the top 10 all-time and she is just one of three players in school history with at least 1,000 points and 1,000 rebounds. She is the first women's basketball player to make an Olympic appearance.