The Emerging Opals lost just one game during 10 days of competition, going down by five points to Russia. 

But the Australian team went on to defeat USA in the quarterfinals, host nation Chinese Taipei in the semi-final and Japan by eight points in the gold medal match to claim the top prize.

In their final game, the Emerging Opals led by as much as 22 points at three-quarter time before Japan fought back with an 11-0 run while keeping Australia scoreless for more than four minutes in the fourth term. 

But the Emerging Opals squad maintained its composure and withheld Japan’s offensive push to clinch its second gold medal in the history of the games.  

Wehrung contributed 11 points, one rebound, three assists and one steal, while shooting at an impressive 75 per cent from the three-point line. 

The 21-year-old from Korweinguboora has played as a guard for Canberra Capitals in the Women’s National Basketball League for three seasons after being recruited from Ballarat Rush in the South East Australian Basketball League.

She graduated through Ballarat’s junior ranks to spend four season with Rush, which included time as a co-captain and winning the most valuable player award in 2015.

Australia’s women’s team previously won gold at the 2007 World University Games and bronze medals in 2005, 2009, 2011 and 2013.

Meanwhile, the Emerging Boomers will battle it out for ninth position against Canada on Tuesday night after falling short of a quarter-final position.

The Australian men’s team, which features Ballarat Miners forward Craig Moller, defeated Mexico, Estonia, Mozambique, Russian Federation and Lithuania, but went down to Ukraine and Israel.

Moller, the Miners’ most valuable player award winner, missed the South East Australian Basketball League south conference final between the Miners and Dandenong to compete on the world stage. 

The 22-year-old is one of three Victorian-based players in the 12-strong squad. 

Moller’s best game to date for the Emerging Boomers has been against Mozambique, where he contributed seven points, four rebounds, one assist and two steals in just 18 minutes of game time.