Mexico, Puerto Rico, Canada, USA shine in Day 1
GUANAJUATO (Mexico) – Four games began the FIBA U16 Americas Women’s Championship in Guanajuato, Mexico, featuring Puerto Rico, Costa Rica , Canada, Brazil, USA, Chile, Mexico and Argentina with the highest four teams qualifying for the 2022 FIBA U17 World Cup for ladies . Here are three main takeaways from the primary day of action at the Fair Dome in León.
North America are early podium contenders
The us are coming off a record year within the world of women’s basketball – and therefore the U16 team has no shortage of greatness just like the older generations who paved the way. Favorites to win, a 95-point victory set the tone for USA – who have won the last two editions of the competition, with Juju Watkins leading her team in both scoring and rebounding with a 21-point, 7-rebound performance. Breya Cunnigham also added 13 points for USA within the win and five different players finished in double-digit scoring for the USA.
Canada, the sole team to knock of team USA at the U16 level within the last four competitions, also had a stellar showing against Brazil as Cassandre Prosper had a near double-double performance shooting over 66 percent from the sector with a 24-point, 9 rebound performance in her 24 minutes on the ground to assist lead her team over Brazil 82-56. Taissa Nascimento Queiroz put up similar numbers for Brazil with a 16-point, 9 rebound performance, but Brazil’s 29 turnovers allowed Canada to attain 24 points leading to the loss.
Puerto Rico’s veteran touch
With veteran Olympic point guard Pamela Rosado named as head coach of this U16 team, the fuel to grow Puerto Rico’s women’s program to subsequent level has been a key focus. And it had been shown in their first game against Costa Rica with a secure 60-45 win. fixing a full team effort on both ends of the court, five different players scored 9 or more points within the win, and 7 players had 5 or more rebounds. Paloma Garcia led the charge on offense with 13 points on 6-of-11 shooting, while Arianis Rivera Martinez grabbed 8 boards within the win.
Costa Rica stayed within the game up against a well-rounded Puerto Rico, with Raquel Cordero Cordoba not only scoring a team-high 11 points but also nabbing a team high 4 steals, but the team was out-rebounded by Puerto Rico 59-43 and allowed 40 points within the paint that sealed their fate getting into their next match against Canada.
Mexico’s basketball court advantage
Jumping bent a hot start because the final match of the day, Mexico had an enormous home crowd as they started on a 20-8 run within the half-moon against Argentina. Valeria Flores tallied 14 points within the half alone, including four 3-pointers, shooting 50 percent from the ground .
Argentina played a troublesome match even despite the atmosphere, cutting Mexico’s cause only one basket halfway through the third quarter because of a defensive rebound and transition layup from Malena Maggi. But Mexico capitalized off Argentina’s turnovers, scoring 20 points from steals and off-target passes.
In a nail-biter that was separated by just four points sometimes within the final minutes, Mexico pulled out the win for his or her electric crowd, finishing with an 8-point lead because the game ended 66-58 in favour of the house team. Flores finished with 20 points, while Gizel Navarro added 13 points while defensive tyrants Sara Guajardo and Fatima Rubio both grabbed 10 boards each including 8 defensive rebounds apiece.
Angelina Giacone led Argentina in scoring together with her 12-point, 8 rebound performance while Delfina Cergneux added 9 points and 15 rebounds that kept Argentina within the game until the dying seconds.
