Nan’an, China – The NetScouts Basketball USA All-Stars survived an early scare from Slovenia to win their first game in Nan’an, China by a score of 81-51.
Slovenia jumped out to a 12-0 lead in the first quarter and led 17-9 at the end of one. The Americans scored as a result of defensive pressure forcing 12 first-half turnovers as team USA outscored Slovenia 24-9 in the second quarter to take the halftime lead. Team USA came out strong in the third-quarter scoring 31 points and widened the margin as they held Slovenia to just 25 points in the second half. 
The USA won the rebounding battle 43- 28 and had 16 assists on 28 field goals. Team defense was the key for the Americans with 17 steals forcing 22 Slovenian turnovers.
Oregon’s Ariel Thomas led a balanced USA offense with 14 points while Joy Burke chipped in with 12 and nine rebounds. All 10 players scored and nine of them had six points or more. Molly Schlemer had seven points and 10 rebounds for the Americans. Camille Buckley had four offensive rebounds and drew five fouls against the opposition on her way to nine points.
Ariel Thomas
A key to the USA comeback was the defensive play of their guard line of Thomas, Arielle Wideman, Deja Mann, and Alisha Filmore who had six steals on the night.
The USA shot 22-of-43 from 2FG for 51 percent and 6-of-18 from 3FG. Larisa Ocvirk, a 6’2 forward led Slovenia with 17 points and five rebounds.
NetScouts Basketball USA All-Stars (81)
Ariel Thomas (Oregon) 14 points, 3 rebounds, 1 assist, 2 steals
Deja Mann (Arizona State) 7 points, 3 rebounds, 4 assists. 1 steal
Arielle Wideman (Nevada) 9 points, 1 rebound, 2 assists, 1 steal
Amy Kame (San Diego) 8 points, 5 rebounds, 3 assists,1 steal
Joy Burke (Arizona State) 12 points, 9 rebounds, 1 steal
Alisha Filmore (SMU) 3 points, 1 assist, 6 steals
Camille Buckley (UC-Irvine) 9 points, 5 rebounds (4 off.), 1 assist, 1 steal
Amber Moore (Illinois) 6 points, 4 rebounds, 2 assists, 2 steals
Tabitha Gerardot (Indiana) 6 points, 3 rebounds, 1 assist, 2 steals
Molly Schlemer (Cal Poly) 7 points, 10 rebounds, 1 assist
Slovenia
Jacobic (2 points, 5 rebounds), Senicar 2 points, 2rebounds), Vujacic (1 point, 3 rebounds), Cadez (2 points, 2 rebounds, 1 block), Stergar (2 points, 1 rebound), Prezelj (7 points, 4 rebounds, 1 assist, 1 steal), Hatunsek (4 points, 1 rebound, 1 assist, 2 steals), Lesek (8 points, 4 assists, 1 block), Ocvirk (17 points, 5 rebounds, 4 assists, 2 steals), Dimec (0 points), Gwashhavanhu (2 points, 1 rebound).
The USA plays Australia in the night cap tomorrow after Slovenia and China square off.
Earlier the team made it over to Hong Kong for some sightseeing and shopping.
Team in Hong Kong
Game 1: China (75) Australia (54)
China used a short rotation, playing six players for the majority of the game and defeated Australia 75-54. The score was 26-23 midway throughout the second period when China went on a 10-0 run to end the half and take a 13 point lead into the break. Australia won the 3rd quarter but again faltered late in the half giving up a big China run in the fourth and ultimately losing to the host team by 21.
Six players scored all of China’s points and three, Lirui Sun (21 points), Yingzhu Wang (18 points), Sijing Huang (17 points) did most of the work. Those three players also contributed to 14 of China’s 19 steals. Australia ended with 25 turnovers. The Aussies dominated the boards statistically 39-19, including 20 offensive rebounds. China managed to shoot 63 percent from the floor.
Madeline Dennis led the Aussies with 14 points while 6’3 post Danijela Milisic chipped in with 13 to go along with 7 rebounds. Anneli Maley also played well posting 7 points and a team high 10 rebounds.
Hong Kong Skyline
Australia (54)
(#4) Maddison Rocci: 6 points, 2 rebounds
(#5) Jasmine Forcadilla: 5 points, 2 rebounds
( #6) Morgan Yaeger: 3 points, 2 rebounds, 2 steals
(#7) Taylor Ortlepp: 0 points, 2 rebounds, 1 assist
(#8) Madeline Dennis: 14 points, 5 rebounds, 1 assist
(#9) Bridget O’Brien: 0 points , 1 rebound, 1 assist
(#10) Anneli Maley: 7 points, 10 rebounds, 1 assist, 2 steals
(#11) Georgia Pineau: 0 points, 1 rebounds, 1 steal
(#12) Alexandra Sharp: 4 points, 6 rebounds, 1 assist, 2 steals
(#13) Bride Kennedy-Hopoate: 2 points, 1 rebound, 1 steal
(#14) Danijela Milisic: 13 points, 7 rebounds
(#15) Tahlia Tupaea: DNP
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Martha Thomas