Sports

U. S. women's hoops crushes Nigeria, hits Olympic semis

.Brian Windhorst, ESPN Senior WriterAug 7, 2024, 05:28 PM ETCloseESPN.com NBA writer due to the fact that 2010.Dealt With Cleveland Cavs for 7 years.Author of pair of booksPARIS-- The mix of A'ja Wilson and Breanna Stewart has actually verified to be a devasting combo for the Team United States women, to the point where there is actually an instance developing that they can discuss the Olympics Many Belongings Gamer Award.But there is actually a new duo developing, though certainly not a surprising one, that's verified to be a big increase as the Americans pursue one more gold medal.Las Vegas Aces teammates Kelsey Plum and Jackie Youthful have improved to become difference-makers in France and also participated in vital jobs in Group USA's 88-74 success over Nigeria in the quarterfinals.It indicated the group's 59th consecutive Olympic success and establishes a semifinal competition versus Australia, victors over Serbia Wednesday, on Friday at 3 p.m. ET.Jackie Youthful do with double-digit points for the 2nd upright video game, firing 60% from the area in the USA' draw Nigeria. CAROLINE BREHMAN/EPA-EFE/ShutterstockCoach Cheryl Reeve relocated Young in to the starting lineup instead of veteran Diana Taurasi against Nigeria, a crew recognized for playing high stress full-court protection that tests opposing guards.It was actually a benefit after Young scored 19 points with four steals off the seat in the last swimming pool play video game against Germany. She answered with yet another exceptional performance, having fun with electricity at both points along with yet another Aces teammate, Chelsea Gray, in the backcourt.Young scored 15 aspects as well as helped hold the united state offense early in the activity as the Americans got off to a little bit of a slow-moving start by their standards.Nigeria was behind by merely four points midway with the 2nd quarter. That's when Reeve headed to Plum, who was actually the 12th as well as ultimate gamer to get in the ready the Americans. Plum quickly changed the activity along with her death and speed on the objectionable point, serving up three fast helps and also toenailing a 3-pointer. Plum do with only 6 aspects but her six-minute change to complete the very first one-half led to a plus-11 on the scoreboard to drive the cause 19 at half. The U.S. at that point started the second half on a 15-0 operate and also the stress was actually done for the evening.Editor's Picks1 RelatedWilson as well as Stewart, who came into the game averaging a matching 20.3 points per video game, played their brand name of seasoned bully ball. Wilson placed in twenty aspects on 9-of-11 shooting along with 11 rebounds as well as 2 blocks. Stewart possessed thirteen factors on 5-of-7 shooting along with five rebounds as well as three assists.Brittney Griner went over the bench to credit rating 11 ideas on 4-of-5 shooting. Those three indoor scorers incorporating for 16-of-21 is actually hard to beat.The U.S. got into the game balancing 29 helps as well as once more applied a ball-sharing clinic by assembling 31 more.Promise Amukamara led Nigeria, which reduced the top down to as low as thirteen in the 4th one-fourth, along with 19 points. The video game ended with a little edge when the united state's Kahleah Copper received a specialized nasty for tossing the reception at Nigeria's Ezinne Kalu after she racked up in the final seconds.