Sports

U. S. ladies's hoops pulverizes Nigeria, gets to Olympic semis

.Brian Windhorst, ESPN Senior Citizen WriterAug 7, 2024, 05:28 PM ETCloseESPN.com NBA article writer considering that 2010.Covered Cleveland Cavs for 7 years.Author of 2 booksPARIS-- The mix of A'ja Wilson and also Breanna Stewart has shown to become a devasting mix for the Group United States females, to the point where there is a case cultivating that they can discuss the Olympics The majority of Prized Possession Player Award.But there is actually a brand new duo emerging, though certainly not a shocking one, that's verified to be a significant increase as the Americans pursue one more gold medal.Las Las vega Aces allies Kelsey Plum and also Jackie Young have actually improved to be difference-makers in France and participated in key jobs in Team USA's 88-74 success over Nigeria in the quarterfinals.It marked the staff's 59th consecutive Olympic victory as well as establishes a semifinal match versus Australia, victors over Serbia Wednesday, on Friday at 3 p.m. ET.Jackie Young finished with double-digit points for the 2nd straight game, shooting 60% from the industry in the USA' get Nigeria. CAROLINE BREHMAN/EPA-EFE/ShutterstockCoach Cheryl Reeve moved Young into the starting sequence instead of veteran Diana Taurasi against Nigeria, a group known for participating in higher stress full-court defense that challenges setting against guards.It was a reward after Youthful racked up 19 factors along with 4 takes off the seat in the final swimming pool play activity versus Germany. She responded along with yet another excellent functionality, playing with electricity at both ends alongside an additional Aces teammate, Chelsea Gray, in the backcourt.Young racked up 15 aspects as well as aided hold the united state outburst early in the activity as the Americans got off to a little bit of a lethargic beginning by their standards.Nigeria was behind through just four aspects midway with the 2nd quarter. That is actually when Reeve went to Plum, who was actually the 12th as well as last gamer to enter the game for the Americans. Plum immediately transformed the activity along with her death and also speed on the offending point, dispensing 3 fast assists and toenailing a 3-pointer. Plum completed with simply six aspects however her six-minute change to end up the initial one-half led to a plus-11 on the scoreboard to push the cause 19 at one-half. The united state then began the 2nd fifty percent on a 15-0 operate and the worry was actually provided for the evening.Editor's Picks1 RelatedWilson as well as Stewart, that entered into the activity balancing a matching 20.3 scores every video game, played their brand of experienced tormenter round. Wilson invested twenty factors on 9-of-11 capturing along with 11 rebounds and 2 blocks. Stewart possessed thirteen aspects on 5-of-7 firing along with five rebounds as well as three assists.Brittney Griner went over the seat to score 11 points on 4-of-5 capturing. Those 3 indoor markers blending for 16-of-21 is difficult to beat.The united state entered into the activity balancing 29 aids and also again placed on a ball-sharing medical clinic through constructing 31 more.Promise Amukamara led Nigeria, which reduced the top to as low as thirteen in the 4th quarter, along with 19 scores. The game ended with a little advantage when the united state's Kahleah Copper got a specialized repulsive for throwing the reception at Nigeria's Ezinne Kalu after she racked up in the ultimate few seconds.