Toulouse, France----The 2010 USA Women’s U17 World Championship team put together an early 23-4 run en route to a 86-57 victory over Spain in the quarterfinals of the 2010 FIBA U17 World Championship Friday. The USA is 6-0 overall, while Spain falls to 2-4 overall.
With the victory, the USA advances to the medal semi-finals on July 24. The Americans will face China (5-1 overall), who picked up a 68-59 win over Russia Friday. The USA had previously played Spain on July 11, with the USA recording a 61-50 exhibition victory in Alagon, Spain.
“We played Spain two weeks ago, and we struggled with their pressure defense,” USA U17 and Wingate University head coach
Barbara Nelson says. “They took the ball from us and we really struggled defending their shooters.”
“Our focus for this game was really to defend their three-point shooters as well as we possibly could and take care of the basketball, so that we didn’t have as many turnovers against their pressure,” Nelson says. “We are excited to be advancing to the next round. We are ready to get to work against China.
Kaleena Lewis (Anaheim, Calif.) led the USA with 16 points. She hit three-of-four from three-point land. Four players hit in double figures, while all 12 U.S. players scored and grabbed at least one rebound.
Elizabeth Williams (Virginia Beach, Va.) tallied 11 points and four blocks.
Cierra Burdick (Matthews, N.C.) and
Jewell Loyd (Lincolnwood, Ill.) contributed 10 points each.
For more information, visit the USA Basketball web site:
http://www.usabasketball.com/womens/u17/