Publications

• Moore, Billie (1980). Basketball, theory and practice. Dubuque, Iowa: W.C. Brown Co. ISBN 9780697070890.

USA Basketball

Moore was named the assistant coach of the team representing the USA at the World University Games held in Moscow, Soviet Union in August 1973. The event, also called the Universiade, is the eighth event to have women's basketball, but the first in which the USA participated. The USA team was assigned to the same preliminary round group as the Soviet team, and drew them as their first opponent. The game was not close, as the USSR defeated the USA 92-43. The USA went on to defeat France and Mexico. Their 2-1 record qualified them for the medal round, but the rules of the competition carried the preliminary round results into the medal round, so they could not afford another loss. They won their next three games, all by single digit margins, against Bulgaria, Romania and Cuba. That performance qualified the USA team for the gold medal game, but it matched them up against undefeated USSR. While the game was closer, the Soviets were much too strong and won 82-44 to claim the gold. The USA team earned a silver medal in their first ever World University Games competition.

Moore was named to the coaching staff on the USA National Team as an assistant coach in 1975. Because the World Championships and the Pan American Games were scheduled only eight days apart, USA basketball put together a squad of players and coaches for both events. The World Championship was help in Cali, Colombia at the end of September through early October. The USA team had a disappointing result finishing 4-3 and missing the medal rounds. In the opening game, the USA lost by two points to Japan. They bounced back to beat Australia, but then faced Czechoslovakia and lost by a single point. This relegated the team to the consolation rounds, where the team won three of four, losing only to Canada, and finishing in eighth place.

The USA Basketball team had had success in the Pan American games with gold medals in 1955,1959, and 1963, but had come in second place in both 1967 and 1971. In 1975, the team was determined to win the gold, and Billie Jean Moore was named assistant coach. One of the leading players on the Pan American team was Lusia Harris, whose Delta State team had beaten Immaculata in the 1975 Championship game, and would do so again in 1976. There were other notable players on the team, such as Pat Head (Summitt), Ann Meyers and others, as well as a 17-year-old high school player, Nancy Lieberman.

The games were originally planned for Chile, then Brazil when Chile withdrew the offer to host, and then Mexico City, where they were eventually held in October. The USA's team first opponent was Mexico, a team that finished ahead of the USA at the World Championships, and would end up the silver medal winning in this competition. The USA team beat them 99-65, setting a tone for the event. The USA next beat Canada 75-56. They followed that game with a convincing 116-28 victory over El Salvador. Their following game against Cuba was the only close game, with the USA winning by six points 70-64. The USA team then went on to defeat the Dominican Republic 99-50, and Columbia 74-48. This set up the final with Brazil. The team from Brazil had beaten the USA team in the prior three Pan American competitions, and had won the gold medal in two of them. This time, the USA team won easily 74-55, earning the gold medal for the first time in twelve years.

[ Source: Wikipedia ]