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Gray Helps USA Defeat France; Move on to Medal Round
8/2/2021 9:11:00 AM | Women's Basketball
TOKYO – In a tight contest throughout, the U.S. Olympic Women's Basketball Team (2-0) fended off France for a 93-82 win on Monday afternoon at Saitama Super Arena in Tokyo.
The USA trailed 72-71 at 9:02 in the fourth quarter, but outscored France 22-10 to close out the win.
A'ja Wilson had 22 points and seven rebounds; Breanna Stewart added 17 points, seven rebounds and seven assists; Tina Charles finished with 15 points and five assists; Brittney Griner scored 11 points; and Jewell Loyd dished out eight assists.
Duke graduate Chelsea Gray played a little over 15 minutes in the victory for the United States, while collecting five points, two rebounds and one assist.
The first quarter saw a 9-2 U.S. run to start the game, but France countered with a 9-0 stretch to go ahead 11-2 at 5:30. The game was tied at 11-11 and 13-13, before France closed by outscoring the USA 9-6 to lead 22-19 after the first quarter.
The teams traded baskets for the first 4:03 of the second quarter, and the USA tied the game 39-39 with two scores in a row at 5:15. France answered with a 3, and the lead changed hands three times before the USA closed with a 7-0 run to go ahead 50-44 at halftime.
Stewart had all 14 of her first half points in the second quarter, and the USA was a red-hot 66.7 percent from the field (12-18 FGs) in the second frame.
The USA was hurt by six turnovers in the third quarter, which saw France outscore the USA 23-21 to cut the USA's lead to four points, 71-67, heading into the fourth quarter.
France scored the first five points of the final period to lead 72-71, but the USA responded with seven straight points to retake a 78-72 lead at 7:12 on the second-straight jumper from Wilson. After scores from both teams, the USA added a 3 from Sue Bird and did not let France any closer than six points from there. Charles scored eight of her points in the fourth, including two 3-pointers.
The USA will find out its quarterfinal match-up following the draw that will be held after the final preliminary round game is played Monday.
Duke graduate Oderah Chidom and Blue Devil senior Elizabeth Balogun also played Monday with Nigeria in a 102-83 loss to Japan. Chidom turned in a solid game with 13 points, a team-high seven rebounds, three assists and two blocked shots in almost 25 minutes. Balogun played eight minutes and notched five points on 2-of-3 field goals, including 1-of-1 from three-point land and had one rebound.
Japan jumped out to a 51-38 advantage at the half and was able to increase its lead in the third quarter, but Balogun and Chidom helped Nigeria outscore Japan, 26-18, in the fourth quarter to conclude the contest.
#GoDuke
The USA trailed 72-71 at 9:02 in the fourth quarter, but outscored France 22-10 to close out the win.
A'ja Wilson had 22 points and seven rebounds; Breanna Stewart added 17 points, seven rebounds and seven assists; Tina Charles finished with 15 points and five assists; Brittney Griner scored 11 points; and Jewell Loyd dished out eight assists.
Duke graduate Chelsea Gray played a little over 15 minutes in the victory for the United States, while collecting five points, two rebounds and one assist.
The first quarter saw a 9-2 U.S. run to start the game, but France countered with a 9-0 stretch to go ahead 11-2 at 5:30. The game was tied at 11-11 and 13-13, before France closed by outscoring the USA 9-6 to lead 22-19 after the first quarter.
The teams traded baskets for the first 4:03 of the second quarter, and the USA tied the game 39-39 with two scores in a row at 5:15. France answered with a 3, and the lead changed hands three times before the USA closed with a 7-0 run to go ahead 50-44 at halftime.
Stewart had all 14 of her first half points in the second quarter, and the USA was a red-hot 66.7 percent from the field (12-18 FGs) in the second frame.
The USA was hurt by six turnovers in the third quarter, which saw France outscore the USA 23-21 to cut the USA's lead to four points, 71-67, heading into the fourth quarter.
France scored the first five points of the final period to lead 72-71, but the USA responded with seven straight points to retake a 78-72 lead at 7:12 on the second-straight jumper from Wilson. After scores from both teams, the USA added a 3 from Sue Bird and did not let France any closer than six points from there. Charles scored eight of her points in the fourth, including two 3-pointers.
The USA will find out its quarterfinal match-up following the draw that will be held after the final preliminary round game is played Monday.
Duke graduate Oderah Chidom and Blue Devil senior Elizabeth Balogun also played Monday with Nigeria in a 102-83 loss to Japan. Chidom turned in a solid game with 13 points, a team-high seven rebounds, three assists and two blocked shots in almost 25 minutes. Balogun played eight minutes and notched five points on 2-of-3 field goals, including 1-of-1 from three-point land and had one rebound.
Japan jumped out to a 51-38 advantage at the half and was able to increase its lead in the third quarter, but Balogun and Chidom helped Nigeria outscore Japan, 26-18, in the fourth quarter to conclude the contest.
#GoDuke
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