USA, Canada head to U18 Women's Americas Championship Final

BUENOS AIRES (Argentina) - USA and Canada both won their Semi-Final battles on Saturday at at Estadio Obras Sanitarias to play in the gold medal game on Sunday, while Brazil and Argentina will meet in the bronze medal game after the action on Saturday.

USA 84 - 40 Brazil

The journey to a tenth straight FIBA U18 Women’s Americas Championship title is still alive for USA as they had another convincing win over a tough Brazil team in the first Semi-Final match.

As USA once again played high pressure defense, keeping Brazil to just 27 percent shooting all game, they were able to hold their opponent to 13 points in the first half while scoring 35 of their own, a 22 point lead that they would double by the end of the match.

 

Their best quarter of the game, USA continued to pile on in the points department as they tipped in 28 point, securing their win before even heading into the final frame of action.

Brazil also had their best action in the second half, though they could not overcome the gap created by USA’s high-power offense that was clutch from the floor, they put up their best offense of the game through the final 20 minutes despite being stopped as a three-point threat.

Five USA players scored 9 or more points in the match, a testament of their well rounded play all competition, but this time Kira Rice was the difference maker offensively scoring 22 points on 61 percent shooting from the floor.

Brazil once again relied on Ana Paula de Oliveira, the only player to score in double digits with 10 points on 62 percent shooting.

Argentina 63 - 78 Canada

Another North American team had their sights set on the podium and Canada will be competing for the gold medal after a solid win against a feisty Argentina who refused to go down without a fight.

Leading by 19 at the half, Canada comfortably had four scorers with 7 or more points by the half and were shooting a confident 50 percent from midrange, holding Argentina to 31 percent shooting with tenacious defense that caused unlikely errors from Argentina.

 

Yet as Argentina knew they could play better, they bounced back and outscored their opponent 22-19 in the third quarter with Malena Maggi and Dagmar Hentschel both tipping in 8 points through three quarters to try and close the deficit Canada had created.

However, with one of the most well-rounded teams in the tournament able to compose themselves shooting and own the glass in both offense and defense, Canada managed to grind out the win even with no signs of Argentina stopping in the fourth quarter, but Canada held on to win.

T’yna Todd as always had a standout game for Canada leading with 14 points, but Mary-Anna Asare was the big help with 13 more points for Canada. Cheyenne Rowe dominated on the glass with 10 rebounds.

Violeta Maggi’s five-point fourth quarter helped bring her to 11 for the game, Argentina’s only double-digit scorer in the loss.

FIBA