USA/JPN - US head into QF with confidence high

BANGKOK (FIBA U19 World Championship for Women) - Twice defending champions the United States began the proceedings strongly to only grow in strength further before notching up a confidence-boosting 109-68 win against Japan in a Group F eight-final round game on Wednesday.

The Americans are now 5-1 in the competition - with a 5-0 run to boot - but have to wait for the result of the Spain-Russia encounter to know where they stand in Group F.

Japan, with a 2-4 record, are virtually out of the race for a berth in the quarterfinals.

The US virtually sealed the issue with a 12-0 blitz in the first five minutes. Layshia Clarendon, coming off the bench, and Kelsey Bone both scored in the paint as Samantha Prahalis scored twice from the perimeter - one of them a three-pointer - during this run as the Americans never looked back.

Yuka Mamiya's three-pointer broke the Japanese drought, but the US had nothing to worry.

US coach Carol Owens used all her 12 players for more than 10 minutes each and all of them scored - six of them in double digits.

Taber Spani was the highest scorer for the US with 15 points with Lasondra Barrett contributing 14.

Kelsey Bone had 13 points and five rebounds.

Shenise Johnson pulled down a game-high seven rebounds - the US dominating the boards 49-28 - and effected two assists to go with her 12 points.

Samantha Prahalis converted two of her three-pointer attempts in her 12 points. Skylar Diggins was 7/20 in field attempts, including 3/ 4 in three-pointers, for 11 points.

Rateisa Fukano was the highest scorer for Japan with 15 points.

FIBA