After an 0-3 start, Team USA 3×3 women’s basketball has found its footing.
The Americans — coached by Jennifer Rizzotti, with URI women’s coach Tammi Reiss as her assistant — are now 3-3 as they head into Saturday’s matchup against China in the knockout stage.
In its fourth game in Paris, the U.S. women became the first to snap a streak of six total winless efforts between themselves and the equally floundering men’s team. The women defeated Spain, 17-11, on Thursday, and notched two more victories — 14-13 over France, and 18-17 in a overtime thriller to beat Canada — on Friday.
Hailey van Lith and Rhyne Howard each scored five points (and one 2-pointer apiece) in the Thursday victory. Howard showed some of her shooting capabilities by drilling four 2-pointers on six attempts from deep to keep the U.S. in the game. The Americans pulled away in the final minute to secure the all-important first win with one more game to play before the knockout round begins.
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Hailey van Lith (9) drives to the basket against Australia’s Marena Whittle (21) in a pool round game during the Paris 2024 Olympic Summer Games on Thursday.
On Friday, WNBA All-Star Dearica Hamby made a clutch bucket to help the Americans top France (which fell to 1-4 after the loss).
“I think we’re getting a little bit better, but not at the pace that I’d like,” USA’s Cierra Burdick said after Thursday’s win. “But we’ve got to find our way.”
In Friday’s win over France, Burdick pulled down a team-best 7 rebounds, and joined teammates van Lith and Hamby by scoring 4 points. In the win over Canada, Howard led the way with 7 points — including the game-winning 2-pointer in OT — while Burdick had a team-best 5 rebounds. The Canadians were paced by Katherine Plouffe (10 points) and twin sister Michelle Plouffe, who had a game-high 6 rebounds.
After the opening loss to Germany, van Lith said the team’s intensity needed to improve.
“I think the effort was a little bit better,” Burdick said. “But we got to find another gear to tap into. Because we’re not getting it done.”
That gear apparently kicked in on Thursday, and carrier the Americans to three victories. The U.S. team will face China on Saturday at 1:05 p.m. ET.
This article originally appeared on The Providence Journal: US women’s 3×3, coached by URI’s Tammi Reiss, has won 3 straight
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Publish date : 2024-08-02 07:51:00
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