FIBA Americas Championship U18 Women Gold Medal game Final USA 84 - Canada 60

[Carnac]

Watch the live Final game between USA and Canada from the FIBA U18 Women's Americas Championship 2018



USA U18 Women Golden, Defeat Canada 84-60

• Box Score
• Additional quotes
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• Schedule & Results

Trailing 18-14 after the first quarter, the USA (6-0) stepped up its defensive pressure and exploded for a 84-60 victory over Canada (5-1) to earn the gold medal at the 2018 FIBA Americas U18 Championship on Aug. 7 in Mexico City, Mexico.


Falling behind 18-14 after Canada capped off the first quarter with the last four points, an invigorated USA squad opened the second period with a 14-3 scoring spurt to take control 28-21 with 5:53 left before half.


Canada closed the gap to 28-25, but the Americans regrouped and outscored Canada 11-6 to close out the first half on top 39-31.


Canada’s hopes of posting the upset were killed in the third quarter as the USA opened the third quarter with a monster 18-5 run and outscored Canada 25-9 overall in the quarter to lead 64-40 heading into the final period.Canada matched the USA in the final quarter as both teams tallied 20 points, but it mattered little as the USA had the gold medal victory.


NaLyssa Smith (Baylor/Converse, Texas) led the U.S. to the win with 18 points and six rebounds, Christyn Williams (Central Arkansas Christian School/Little Rock, Ark.) was credited with 11 points, five rebounds and five assists, Nazahrah Hillmon-Baker(Gilmour Academy/Cleveland, Ohio)added 10 points and six boards, and Ashley Joens(Iowa City H.S./Iowa City, Iowa)recorded 10 points. No one from Canada scored in double figures. With the win, the USA has now won nine-straight FIBA Americas U18 Championship gold medals and compiled an all-time 59-2 record.

Canada over view - profile - roster

USA over view - profile - roster

Official FIBA U18 Women's Championship web site

 

[JordyG]

Win or lose this not a particularly fun team to watch.

 

[Carnac]

Win or lose this not a particularly fun team to watch.

Yeah, the U17 team spoiled us rotten.

 

[JordyG]

Yeah, the U17 team spoiled us rotten.

There's just no player that jumps off the screen, their brute, 1v1 style isn't the ball movement style that I like, many players don't seem as versatile, as a group they don't shoot the ball well (not to mention how many bunnies they miss and how poorly they are from the line and the arc), there's a distinct lack of speed up front, and the guards have a problem breaking down defenses off the dribble when the teams mediocre ball movement fails to get an open look.

Otherwise they're the best ever.

 

[Alydar]

Yeah, the U17 team spoiled us rotten.

The U18 team is typical of what I have seen, especially in these "Americas" preliminaries. The U17 team I saw was far and away the most entertaining U16/17/18/19 team I have seen.

Then again it could have something to do with the style of their coaches. From the few Tufts games I have seen they look a lot like UConn, just at a different level, finding high % shots by passing and movement without the ball while UL wins a lot of games that look like sloppy, poor shooting & foul-plagued messes.

 

[RockyMTblue2]

I do wonder if the faster clock has something to do with what we are seeing.

 

[Sluconn Husky]

Then again it could have something to do with the style of their coaches. From the few Tufts games I have seen they look a lot like UConn, just at a different level, finding high % shots by passing and movement without the ball while UL wins a lot of games that look like sloppy, poor shooting & foul-plagued messes.

I think that U17 team has a lot more elite talent on it too.

 

[Reypl21]

I think that U17 team has a lot more elite talent on it too.

The original roster for the U18 originally had 2 ND players ( Prohaska & Nixon) and 2 other Baylor players (Scott-Grayson & Egbo) right?

I also want to point out that this could be the first gold medal for the 2018 class. The previous u16/17 got bronze medals. The current batch of players that made up the recent u16/17 teams are far more elite players. Just like you stated. The u19 team next year should consist of the younger players , rather than the older ones. No player on the u18 team could break the starting lineup of the u17 team.

 

[MilfordHusky]

Switching over from the WNBA games. Will I notice the difference?

 

[MilfordHusky]

Christyn had a nice crossover dribble in transition and left the layup short. In the same possession, she shot an airball from the corner. Come on, Christyn!!

 

[Sluconn Husky]

Both Huskies with awful starts. ONO 1-4 from the field with three missed layups and sitting with two fouls. Williams with a blown layup and airball.

 

[RockyMTblue2]

All the entertainment value of a root canal in this first quarter.

 

[MilfordHusky]

Clearly, Canada is the best team we have faced. They look more organized than us.

 

[MilfordHusky]

18-14 Canada after 1Q. Ugh!

 

[Sluconn Husky]

Real impressive drive and finish with the right hand from CW.

 

[Sluconn Husky]

But then an airball three attempt.

 

[Sluconn Husky]

Williams gets a 1-on-1 break opportunity, bowls the defender over but misses the shot in close.

Canada living at the foul line, otherwise struggling to score.

 

[Sluconn Husky]

Not sure about their talent, but the Canadians compete like pitbulls.

 

[Sluconn Husky]

39-31 US at the half. Not sure the Canadians have the offensive skill to win this. They basically keep it close with effort and physicality. The US could probably pull away if they'd execute offensively and keep Canada off the glass.

 

[Alydar]

To my eye the US won yesterday and lead today by 8 at the half due only to fatigue on the part of their opponents late in the 2nd period.

 

[MilfordHusky]

CW has been short on many of her touch shots. With just over 4:00 to go in the 3Q, she picks up a loose ball and double-pumps for a layup. Legendary.

 

[Mdoggie]

CW will not be playing PG much at UConn. 2 guard off the ball. CD will make CW legendary.

 

[Carnac]

OK, USA wins the gold, Great. What player on this team impressed you the most. For me, it was by far Jenna Brown.

I was also impressed with Ashley Joens. She hit some BIG "timely" 3's during the entire series.

Box score

 

[MilfordHusky]

Once again, the U.S. wore down the opposition. The final, 84-60.

Congrats to Jeff, the other coaches, and the players. Gold for USA!

Christyn had 11/5/5. Liv had 7/4/1.

The team seemed fairly balanced, and most of the stats reflected that. The player who impressed me most was probably NaLyssa Smith, whom Geno recruited. She was big, strong, and aggressive. NaLyssa had 18 tonight.

Best wishes to Sedona Prince with her surgery and rehab.

 

[MilfordHusky]

OK, USA wins the gold, Great. What player on this team impressed you the most. For me, it was by far Jenna Brown.

Coming into tonight, 9 players were averaging between 7.8 ppg and 10.8 ppg.

I thought it was pretty even. Brown looked mostly good. Joens, though criticized here early on, looked good at times. As noted in another post, I liked NaLyssa Smith.

I liked our kids. Liv is more raw than I previously thought. I wouldn't take anyone over Christyn.