USA/ESP - USA see off Spain challenge to set up clash with China

TOULOUSE (FIBA U17 World Championship for Women) – The USA dominated Spain 86-57 in the second quarter-final played in front of 650 fans at the Palais des Sports in Toulouse.

The Americans, playing in front of the Toulouse crowd for the first time after being based in Rodez for the Preliminary Round, will face China in Saturday’s semi-finals.

Spain got off to a great start and led 12-8 on Yurena Diaz’s wing three-pointer five minutes into the game.

But the USA answered right back wih Kalena Lewis and Jewell Loyd spearheading a 19-4 run that saw them finish the period up 27-16.

And Barbara Nelson’s charges did a good job of denying the Spaniards access to the basket, forcing them into taking questionable perimeter shots and turning the ball over.

The USA led 48-28 at the break and they increased it to 70-42 to end the third quarter.

There was no miracle comeback for Victor Lapena’s girls in the final frame. They will take on Russia in the games to determine places 5-8.

Quotes

Barbara Nelson (USA head coach): We played Spain two weeks ago and we struggled against their defensive pressure. Today we had a hard time in defending their three-point shooters but we did a good job of limiting our turnovers against their full court pressure. We knew it would be a hard game defensively and we were focused in not turning the ball. It’s exciting to be in the next round and we look forward to playing China.

Victor Lapena (Spain head coach): Congratulation to the USA, they are a great team. We have to recognise that from the seventh minute of the game until the end, they dominated. We were technically and physically inferior but my players never gave up. The Americans led most of the way. It’s a logical win. We reached our limits today.

FIBA/LOC