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Lawson, USA Basketball 3x3 Team is Tokyo Bound
5/30/2021 4:53:00 PM | Women's Basketball
GRAZ, Austria – Duke women's basketball head coach Kara Lawson and the USA Basketball 3x3 team qualified for the inaugural Olympic 3x3 basketball event this summer in Tokyo as the USA collected wins over Belarus and Spain on Saturday in Graz, Austria.
"We are going to Tokyo, it is so exciting," said Lawson. "These four players represented the United States well. Their focus, execution and respect for the game shone thru during the entire tournament. This was not easy. We started in January of 2020 trying to build our team. We waited a long time to have the opportunity to compete for this spot. There were pressure filled moments during our time here and these women responded every time."
In the morning, the USA women registered a 21-10 quarterfinal win over Belarus and then posted a 21-13 victory over Spain in the semifinals to qualify for the Olympics. Lawson's squad went 6-0 at the FIBA 3x3 Olympic Qualifying Tournament.
The USA and France, the other semifinal winner, along with Japan, winner of the third-place game, earned historic Olympic berths.
"This is a dream come true," said Lawson. "To have experienced the Olympics as a player was amazing. It is the pinnacle of our sport. Now, to be able to help these women realize that dream as their coach. It is very fulfilling. I'm thankful to represent the USA and I know we will do it with a lot of pride in Tokyo."
The U.S. offense was balanced overall, with Kelsey Plum recording 32 points (5.3 ppg.) and Katie Lou Samuelson with 22 points (3.7 ppg.) – averaging a total of 21.2 ppg. as a team.
Against Spain in the semifinal, the USA got out to a 6-2 lead, but with a 2-pointer at 6:30 Spain pulled within one point, 7-6. The USA immediately responded, and Dolson, Plum and Gray added points to push the Americans in front 13-6. From there Spain would get no closer than four points, 14-10 at 2:34.
To cap the win, Plum dished to Dolson for a score inside that made it 21-13 with 21.2 seconds on the clock. Dolson and Gray each finished with seven points, Plum had four and Samuelson scored all three of her points from the line.
The USA only gave up two 2s to Spain in the game.
"I think the biggest overall thing for both games, which is what (coach) Kara (Lawson) has always emphasized, is at the end of the day, it is our pace that helps us win," Plum said. "We continue to find a way to win, and it was really cool to see that happen, especially in the Spain game, because it was pretty close, it was back and forth. So, we're just really excited. I love this team, and we have a lot of fun."
In the quarterfinal against Belarus, it took a minute for either team to get on the board, but the USA built a 6-1 lead at the first media timeout at 6:26. Unlike in previous games, the USA scored by 1s only until the 3:35 mark. Samuelson, who finished with five points, made a two to bring the score to 14-6. Gray had four of her six points in the final few minutes, alternating scores with Plum, who made her second two to end the game at 21-10 with 1:41 on the clock.
Plum finished with seven points, Gray had six and Dolson had three.
In its first Olympic showing, 3x3 basketball will feature eight women's teams competing from July 24-28.
"It's special being in my first year at Duke University and being able to represent us on the world stage," said Lawson. "I want to thank President Price for his support of our mission this year. Kevin White and Nina King are both passionate advocates for the Olympic movement. My staff helped in many ways as we prepared for this competition. Thank you to everyone at Duke for cheering us on!"
#GoDuke
"We are going to Tokyo, it is so exciting," said Lawson. "These four players represented the United States well. Their focus, execution and respect for the game shone thru during the entire tournament. This was not easy. We started in January of 2020 trying to build our team. We waited a long time to have the opportunity to compete for this spot. There were pressure filled moments during our time here and these women responded every time."
In the morning, the USA women registered a 21-10 quarterfinal win over Belarus and then posted a 21-13 victory over Spain in the semifinals to qualify for the Olympics. Lawson's squad went 6-0 at the FIBA 3x3 Olympic Qualifying Tournament.
The USA and France, the other semifinal winner, along with Japan, winner of the third-place game, earned historic Olympic berths.
"This is a dream come true," said Lawson. "To have experienced the Olympics as a player was amazing. It is the pinnacle of our sport. Now, to be able to help these women realize that dream as their coach. It is very fulfilling. I'm thankful to represent the USA and I know we will do it with a lot of pride in Tokyo."
The U.S. offense was balanced overall, with Kelsey Plum recording 32 points (5.3 ppg.) and Katie Lou Samuelson with 22 points (3.7 ppg.) – averaging a total of 21.2 ppg. as a team.
Against Spain in the semifinal, the USA got out to a 6-2 lead, but with a 2-pointer at 6:30 Spain pulled within one point, 7-6. The USA immediately responded, and Dolson, Plum and Gray added points to push the Americans in front 13-6. From there Spain would get no closer than four points, 14-10 at 2:34.
To cap the win, Plum dished to Dolson for a score inside that made it 21-13 with 21.2 seconds on the clock. Dolson and Gray each finished with seven points, Plum had four and Samuelson scored all three of her points from the line.
The USA only gave up two 2s to Spain in the game.
"I think the biggest overall thing for both games, which is what (coach) Kara (Lawson) has always emphasized, is at the end of the day, it is our pace that helps us win," Plum said. "We continue to find a way to win, and it was really cool to see that happen, especially in the Spain game, because it was pretty close, it was back and forth. So, we're just really excited. I love this team, and we have a lot of fun."
In the quarterfinal against Belarus, it took a minute for either team to get on the board, but the USA built a 6-1 lead at the first media timeout at 6:26. Unlike in previous games, the USA scored by 1s only until the 3:35 mark. Samuelson, who finished with five points, made a two to bring the score to 14-6. Gray had four of her six points in the final few minutes, alternating scores with Plum, who made her second two to end the game at 21-10 with 1:41 on the clock.
Plum finished with seven points, Gray had six and Dolson had three.
In its first Olympic showing, 3x3 basketball will feature eight women's teams competing from July 24-28.
"It's special being in my first year at Duke University and being able to represent us on the world stage," said Lawson. "I want to thank President Price for his support of our mission this year. Kevin White and Nina King are both passionate advocates for the Olympic movement. My staff helped in many ways as we prepared for this competition. Thank you to everyone at Duke for cheering us on!"
#GoDuke
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