Sports

U. S. women's hoops squashes Nigeria, hits Olympic partially

.Brian Windhorst, ESPN Elderly Person WriterAug 7, 2024, 05:28 PM ETCloseESPN.com NBA writer due to the fact that 2010.Covered Cleveland Cavs for seven years.Author of pair of booksPARIS-- The combo of A'ja Wilson and also Breanna Stewart has proven to become a devasting combination for the Group U.S.A. ladies, relevant where there is actually a scenario cultivating that they could share the Olympics Most Valuable Player Award.But there is actually a brand new duo surfacing, though not an unusual one, that is actually proved to be a big improvement as the Americans work toward yet another gold medal.Las Vegas Aces teammates Kelsey Plum as well as Jackie Young have actually improved to become difference-makers in France as well as participated in key duties in Staff U.S.A.'s 88-74 success over Nigeria in the quarterfinals.It indicated the team's 59th consecutive Olympic success and puts together a semifinal match versus Australia, winners over Serbia Wednesday, on Friday at 3 p.m. ET.Jackie Young completed with double-digit aspects for the second upright video game, shooting 60% coming from the field in the United States' win over Nigeria. CAROLINE BREHMAN/EPA-EFE/ShutterstockCoach Cheryl Reeve moved Young into the starting lineup in place of veteran Diana Taurasi against Nigeria, a group understood for playing higher stress full-court self defense that tests setting against guards.It was actually a benefit after Young racked up 19 points along with 4 steals off the seat in the last swimming pool play activity versus Germany. She responded with yet another outstanding performance, playing with energy at each points along with yet another Aces colleague, Chelsea Gray, in the backcourt.Young scored 15 aspects as well as aided hold the U.S. outburst early in the video game as the Americans left to a bit of a sluggish beginning through their standards.Nigeria lagged by just 4 points midway via the second one-fourth. That's when Reeve headed to Plum, who was the 12th and final gamer to enter into the ready the Americans. Plum right away changed the game with her death as well as velocity on the offensive point, serving up three quick supports and also toenailing a 3-pointer. Plum completed with just 6 factors yet her six-minute switch to finish the first half resulted in a plus-11 on the scoreboard to drive the trigger 19 at half. The united state then began the second fifty percent on a 15-0 operate and the worry was done for the evening.Editor's Picks1 RelatedWilson and also Stewart, that entered into the video game balancing a matching 20.3 points every video game, played their company of seasoned bully round. Wilson invested twenty aspects on 9-of-11 capturing with 11 rebounds as well as 2 blocks. Stewart possessed thirteen factors on 5-of-7 shooting with five rebounds as well as 3 assists.Brittney Griner went over the bench to credit rating 11 points on 4-of-5 shooting. Those three indoor markers incorporating for 16-of-21 is hard to beat.The U.S. got in the game balancing 29 aids and also once more put on a ball-sharing clinic through assembling 31 more.Promise Amukamara led Nigeria, which reduced the lead down to as low as 13 in the fourth quarter, with 19 points. The activity ended along with a little bit of upper hand when the USA's Kahleah Copper got a technological nasty for tossing the reception at Nigeria's Ezinne Kalu after she scored in the ultimate few seconds.