NetScouts Basketball USA All-Stars won their fourth straight game on their China tour with a 71-55 win over Hungary before 3.332 fans in Wenjiang Arena in Chengdu. The USA started slowly as Hungary’s Reka Balint scored the first seven points of the game. The Americans came back to take a 13-12 lead after the first quarter.
The USA’s Tahnee Robinson got hot late in the first quarter and in the second quarter hitting 4-of-5 three-pointers to help the Americans take a 37-27 halftime lead. The USA extended their lead to 57-43 after the third quarter before extending their lead to 23 points before coasting to the victory.
Robinson led a balanced USA attack with 12 points. Aulani Sinclair was the other American in double-figures with 10 points. Rita Rasheed led Hungary with 14 points. Balint added 11. The USA out-rebounded their opponent for the fourth straight game, this time by a 40-26 margin. The USA held Hungary to 30% shooting from the field. The Americans made 7-of-14 three-pointers compared to 7-of-23 for Hungary. The Americans need to cut down on turnovers if the expect to continue to win at this event. In tonight’s game the USA committed 20 turnovers.
Statistics
Chelsea Hopkins, PG (San Diego State) 4 points, 3 rebounds, 3 assists, 2 steals
Alexis Gray-Lawson, G (California) 6 points, 5 rebounds, 1 assist
Aishah Sutherland, F (Kansas) 5 points, 10 rebounds
Taleya Mayberry, PG (Tulsa) 4 points, 1 rebound, 3 assists, 2 steals
China Crosby, PG (Virginia) 0 points, 2 rebounds, 1 assist
Tahnee Robinson, G (Nevada) 12 points, 2 rebounds
Aulani Sinclair, F (Indiana) 10 points, 1 rebound, 1 assist
Nikki Greene, C (Penn State) 2 points, 6 rebounds
Sarah Eichler, F (Green Bay) 5 points, 4 rebounds, 1 assist
Chelsea Poppens, F (Iowa State) 9 points, 3 rebounds, 2 steals, 1 block
Jessica Lawson, C (South Florida) 5 points, 5 rebounds, 1 steal
Talia Caldwell, C (California) 9 points, 5 rebounds, 3 assists
In the first game China came back from an 11-point third quarter deficit to defeat an upset-minded Australian team 76-73. The game was tied at 73 with a minute left when China’s 6’1 Ting Shao got loose for a three-pointer that proved to be the deciding basket. Neither team scored in the last minutes as China escaped with the win.
Shao had the high scoring game of the tour, scoring 28 points on 6-of-9 three-pointers. Alex Sheedy played a very strong game for Australia with 26 points on 9-of-14 shooting, including 3-of-4 three’s and also pulling down eight rebounds. China’s 6’5 Dong Yu pulled down a tour high 15 rebounds. China moves to 3-1 on the tour while Australia falls to 1-3.
Team USA is doing a great job, love you Nikki.
Nathaniel Greene