Unbeaten quartet of Australia, France, Hungary and USA make up Semi-Final lineup at U17 Women's World Cup
MINSK (FIBA U17 Women's Basketball World Cup 2018) - The four unbeaten teams at the FIBA U17 Women's Basketball World Cup 2018 on Friday all advanced to the Semi-Finals.
Australia and USA are the only two former winners of the competition, while France and Hungary have both made it onto the podium once before.
🇫🇷 will play 🇦🇺 before 🇺🇸 take on 🇭🇺 in tomorrow's #FIBAU17 Semi-Finals!
— FIBA (@FIBA) July 27, 2018
✍️ Re-live the day: https://t.co/OMg1UefPr1 pic.twitter.com/uWKsnCxoEx
Three-time champions USA powered past Spain with a 66-31 victory, holding their opponents to their lowest ever points total in the event. Zia Cooke top scored with 14 points on 6 of 6 shooting with Paige Bueckers also in double figures with 12.
Reigning champions Australia also excelled on the defensive end as they overcame Italy 64-46 in a repeat of the 2016 Final, conceding just 18 points in the second half - much to the delight of head coach Shannon Seebohm.
"It's been outstanding," he said of his team's defense. "It's something we pride ourselves on and something that we spend a lot of time on. Obviously the games get harder now, defenses get better so we have to keep being more disciplined. We can't have as many turnovers as we did today and just have to improve."
France set up a Semi-Final showdown with the defending champions as they brushed aside the challenge of Latvia, 67-43.
Iliana Rupert returned from injury to lead the way with 12 points, 8 rebounds and 5 assists in the win as the French return to the Last Four for the first time since 2010, when they hosted the inaugural edition of the tournament.
Nearly half of France's points came off of turnovers as Latvia turned the ball 33 times in their first-ever Quarter-Final at the U17 Women’s World Cup.
Meanwhile, Hungary were the last team to advance as they boosted their podium hopes with a 74-62 triumph over Japan. Barbara Angyal top scored with 18 points with Reka Dombai adding 15 points and 9 boards in the win.
🏀🐦 Let it fly Barbara Angyal!
— FIBA (@FIBA) July 27, 2018
📽 Watch: https://t.co/j8IOK9fbOM#FIBAU17 @Kosarsport pic.twitter.com/IHQ6PYXmXr
Saturday's games (all times GMT + 3)
Semi-Finals
France v Australia (18:00)
USA v Hungary (20:30)
Classification 5-8
Latvia v Italy (13:15)
Japan v Spain (15:30)
Classification 9-12
Mali v New Zealand (15:30)
China v Canada (17:45)
Classification 13-16
Angola v Colombia (11:00)
Argentina v Belarus (13:00)
FIBA
