Brazil takes charge against Mexico to secure Semi-Final spot

LEON (Mexico) – One of two teams to remain undefeated, Brazil secured their spot in the Semi-Final of the 2023 FIBA Women’s AmeriCup after an 83-61 win over Mexico on Friday night at Domo de la Feria in León, Guanajuato, Mexico.

Brazil got ahead early, grabbing an 11-2 lead against Mexico as Damiris Dantas and Rapha Monteiro started scoring early, but shortly the gap would close as Myriam Lara and Claudia Ramos did the same for Mexico.

With the game suddenly a one-point affair after the first quarter that Brazil had a step ahead in, they slowly pulled further away as Isabela Macedo tallied 11 points in less than nine minutes for Brazil while Dantas and Emanuely De Oliveria supplemented the scoring while Tainá Paixo dominated on the boards.

Ramos and Lara led Mexico once again but with their bench contributing just 12 points in the half Mexico trailed 38-33 going into the break as their defense kept them close enough thanks to quick play that frustrated Brazil.

However, the third quarter separated Brazil and Mexico for what would be the remainder of the game as Sassá Gonçalves and Kamilla Cardoso also added scoring contributions for Brazil while Paixao and Cardoso controlled the boards holding Mexico to just 6 points from second chances under the net.

Mexico scored just 8 points in the quarter as Katia Gallegos and Gladys Avila put in the work to help Ramos as one of the team’s stronger scorers, Sofia Payan, was held to just 2 points in 16 minutes of action.

Brazil’s size and dominance on the glass was too much for Mexico to keep up with down low, and as the team shot just 34 percent through three quarters, Brazil had a big enough lead to hold onto into the final frame of action.

Mexico however did not give up, and Lara, Gallegos, Ramos and Jacqueline Luna all continued to score into the fourth quarter tipping in 20 points as a team in the fourth, but as Brazil scored 22 points thanks to Monteiro and a 7-point quarter from Alana Gonçalo, they could not force a win.

Monteiro led Brazil with 14 points while Macedo added 11, Dantas and Gonçalo both added 10 points and Paixao added 8 points, 13 rebounds and 4 assists in the win.

Luna and Gallegos both tipped in 12 points for Mexico, Ramos added 11 points and 8 rebounds and Lara added 10 points and 8 rebounds in the loss.

Check out the semifinals start times here

FIBA