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| Former UConn star scored 16 points to lead Team USA to victory over Argentina in FIBA AmeriCup action. |
SAN JUAN, Puerto Rico—Getting points from all 12 team
members and with five players in
double-digit scoring, the USA (3-0) topped
Argentina (1-2) 100-50 in preliminary round play at the 2019 FIBA AmeriCup on
Wednesday evening in San Juan, Puerto Rico.
Former UConn star Katie Lou Samuelson (Chicago Sky)
scored 11 of her 16 points in the fourth quarter, and she added seven rebounds.
Arike Ogunbowale (Dallas Wings) scored 14 points and had five assists. Sylvia
Fowles (Minnesota Lynx) scored all 14 of her points in the first half. Brittney
Sykes (Atlanta Dream) added 11 points, seven rebounds and six assists; and Diamond
DeShields (Chicago Sky) contributed 10 points and five assists. Jordin
Canada (Seattle Storm) was responsible for nine of the USA's 31 assists,
and the USA outrebounded Argentina 49-32.
“I like the fact that we're being challenged from a
defensive standpoint,” said Dawn Staley, USA National Team and
University of South Carolina head coach. "People are showing us different
things. We like seeing challenges. We like taking people's best, whatever
they're best at, we like to challenge ourselves to be able to disrupt that. I
thought for stretches we did that against Argentina. I thought for stretches
they were able to move the ball from east to west, and that's something that we
try to come into the game an eliminate."
Fowles got the scoring started for a second-straight game,
tallying the first seven points of a 9-0 opening U.S. run. And after points
from four more U.S. scorers, the North Americans led 24-13 at the end of the
first quarter.
Behind three-straight 3-pointers from Macarena Durso,
Argentina was within 10 points of the USA in the second quarter, 32-22, but the
USA responded with a 10-run and then led 47-24 at halftime. Fowles added seven
more points in the second period, while the USA had 18 assists.
“We got a little bit out of whack in how we were defending
the middle ball screen,” said Staley, who took over the reigns of Team USA
after Geno Auriemma’s seven-year run—including the 2012 and 2016 Summer Olympics.
“Once we got back on it and started playing with a little bit more pace, we
started opening up the game. We're going to get everyone's best effort in the
beginning of the game, but it's a 40-minute game and I like our chances of
winning a 40-minute game with the depth that we have.”
The USA dominated the third quarter, outscoring Argentina
24-9 to lead 71-33 with 10 minutes to play. This time it was Ogunbowale adding
seven points to spark the USA in the third period.
And in the fourth quarter, the USA outscored Argentina 29-17
to bring the game to its final of 100-50.
“Argentina was really tough the whole game,” said Samuelson.
“They really put up a fight, got our posts having to work hard and be aware
where they were and what they were doing on the court. So, we really felt that
we needed to step up and bring that energy off the bench, especially since the
starters have been really solid for us every single game.
“Being a shooter, you know that when you have a couple bad
shooting games, that's when you just need to keep shooting,” continued
Samuelson, who led the Huskies to the 2016 NCAA championship and was twice
named American Athletic Conference Player of the Year. Lou was 6-of-10 from the
floor against Argentina after shooting just 3-of-14 in the first two games.
“You don't get in your own head about it, you just keep
doing what you know how to do, so I felt good,” she added. “My teammates got me
some really good open shots today, so I kind of got back into a rhythm.”
The USA will close preliminary play against also unbeaten
Brazil (3-0) at 3 p.m. (all time ET) on Sept. 26. Both sides have already
clinched a berth into the medal semifinals. However, a No. 1 seed out of Group
B will be on the line. All of the USA games will be shown live on ESPN+.
—Staff Reports
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