So far, we have yet to see the variety of Team USA victory where it looks as if teams do not even belong on the same court with the Stars and Stripes.
What we have seen is a USA team which remains atop Group D after a 100-88 victory over China.
What may have some aficionados of the United States Basketball Women’s National Team scratching their heads is how close such a game can be after this team routed the Chinese at the Olympics and at a recent exhibition at KeyArena.
That was then and this is now and one has to take victories however they occur.
1Q: 🇺🇸 #USABWNT 25, 🇨🇳 China 20 #FIBAWWC
Hot start for @tinacharles31, who has 10 pts. on 5-of-6 shooting for the U.S. @_ajawilson22 scores 6 pts. in the opening quarter.
📺 » https://t.co/yHL7vnVdZ4
📊 » https://t.co/HskU4pDLS9 pic.twitter.com/4XD6LZMsB4— USA Basketball (@usabasketball) September 23, 2018
Team USA shot a robust 58 percent from the field – including 23 points from Breanna Stewart and 20 courtesy of A’ja Wilson off the bench. In addition, Tina Charles contributed 16 points to the USA effort and Diana Taurasi scored 13.
HALF: 🇺🇸 #USABWNT 48, 🇨🇳 China 39
58% shooting for the USA in the half. @_ajawilson22 leads all scorers with 14 pts., @DianaTaurasi with 11 pts. & @tinacharles31 with 10. #FIBAWWC
📺 » https://t.co/yHL7vocOQC …
📊 » https://t.co/HskU4pVmJH … pic.twitter.com/eM77FU5laG— USA Basketball (@usabasketball) September 23, 2018
Both Wilson and Stewart also aded six rebounds apiece. Taurasi, along with Layshia Clarendon, each dished out five assists.
3Q: 🇺🇸 #USABWNT 77, 🇨🇳 China 68
@breannastewart up to a game-high 19 pts. @_ajawilson22 with 18 for the USA. #FIBAWWC📺 » https://t.co/yHL7vocOQC … …
📊 » https://t.co/HskU4pVmJH … … pic.twitter.com/O2jsnogd42— USA Basketball (@usabasketball) September 23, 2018
For China, Xu Han scored 20 points and Mengran Sun helped its efforts with 16 points and six rebounds. Meng Li, in over 25 minutes of play scored 12 and Ting Shao finished with 10.
Despite China outdoing Team USA in offensive rebounding, second chance points, and bench points, the result still was in favor of the red, white, and blue.
Dawn Staley’s USA squad will have one more group stage contest on Tuesday when they take on Latvia while China will face Senegal earlier that day.
