FIBA U19W - Contenders look to turn the screw in Eighth-Final Round

KLAIPEDA/PANEVEZYS (FIBA U19 World Championship for Women) - With the Preliminary Round of the FIBA U19 World Championship for Women already in the books, the 12 teams competing in the Eighth-Final Round are preparing to shift up a gear and highlight their credentials as the competition inevitably becomes even more fierce.

Red-hot tournament favourites USA have barely broken stride so far and have looked every bit as imperious as most people had anticipated when the competition tipped off.

With three convincing wins under their belts, including a major rout of undersized Mali in their last game, head coach Kate Meier is satisfied with progress, having been able to try some things out against the African underdogs.

"We tried to share minutes because it's very important everybody feels important and valued and they're figuring out their roles," she said.

"We platooned a little bit. In the second half we moved some line-ups around to get a feel for other groups.

"We went really big in one line-up, I think the term is ginormous. We just wanted to see if we could adjust and change our offenses based on losing some of our dribble penetration opportunities.

"I thought we did a nice job playing without Mo (Jefferson) and Stewie (Breanna Stewart), while (Morgan) Tuck played a little perimeter, so we learned and we got better."

The mere notion of Group F leaders USA (3-0) improving further is a chilling prospect for the teams now tasked with slowing them down. The Netherlands (1-2) have that task first up, followed by Canada (2-1) who were just pipped in their last game against flawless France (3-0) who look like they may be in the mood for medal contention.

There is little doubt China (2-1) look a potentially dangerous customer and showed their power and potential against Lithuania (1-2) last time out. Certainly the hosts will have to step it up when they play Canada, France and Netherlands if they want to improve their record and bag a last eight place.

In Klaipeda, Spain (3-0) are bidding to make a third successive Final and things are going smoothly as they currently sit proudly unbeaten at the top of Group E having made people sit up and take notice after their big win over Australia  (2-1).

Astou Ndour is showing why she was recently crowned MVP of the U20 European Championship Women and how she has become even better than her already impressive displays two years ago in Chile.

Spain are joined at the summit by Brazil (3-0), the fourth team in the tournament yet to taste defeat and this match-up between the two sides - scheduled for Wednesday - certainly looks to be one of the most mouth-watering so far.

Something has to give when Russia (2-1) search for their third straight victory against Australia who have the same record and the Gems will be eager to bounce back from their Spanish mauling - especially since they were in such great form prior to arriving in Lithuania, which had many people tipping them to make the podium.

Meanwhile, Japan (1-2) and Serbia (1-2) both have the most to do if they want to reach the Quarter-Finals.

The Classification Round to determine places 13-16 gets underway on Monday and something will give when Senegal face Mali in an all-African match-up as both teams search for a first victory on Lithuanian soil.

Mali have been regular attendees of the competition since its inception, whilst Senegal will bid to make history with their first success, having finished 0-5 during their only previous appearance in 1985.

The other two teams who will lock horns and try to rack up their first success at this years’ event are Korea and Argentina, who will both be particularly disappointed to have slipped into the Classification Round.

FIBA