Sports

U. S. girls's hoops squashes Nigeria, reaches Olympic semis

.Brian Windhorst, ESPN Senior Citizen WriterAug 7, 2024, 05:28 PM ETCloseESPN.com NBA author considering that 2010.Covered Cleveland Cavs for 7 years.Writer of two booksPARIS-- The combo of A'ja Wilson and also Breanna Stewart has proven to become a devasting combination for the Team U.S.A. females, relevant where there is actually a situation developing that they can discuss the Olympics The majority of Belongings Player Award.But there is actually a brand new duo emerging, though not an unusual one, that's shown to be a major boost as the Americans work toward one more gold medal.Las Las vega Aces colleagues Kelsey Plum as well as Jackie Youthful have improved to become difference-makers in France and also participated in vital tasks in Crew U.S.A.'s 88-74 triumph over Nigeria in the quarterfinals.It signified the team's 59th successive Olympic success as well as sets up a semifinal competition versus Australia, victors over Serbia Wednesday, on Friday at 3 p.m. ET.Jackie Youthful completed with double-digit aspects for the second upright video game, firing 60% from the industry in the USA' get Nigeria. CAROLINE BREHMAN/EPA-EFE/ShutterstockCoach Cheryl Reeve relocated Young right into the starting sequence in place of veteran Diana Taurasi against Nigeria, a team understood for participating in high tension full-court defense that tests opposing guards.It was a benefit after Young racked up 19 factors with four takes off the bench in the last swimming pool play video game against Germany. She reacted along with yet another superb performance, enjoying with power at both ends alongside an additional Aces ally, Chelsea Gray, in the backcourt.Young scored 15 factors and aided bring the united state outburst early in the video game as the Americans got off to a little bit of a slow beginning through their standards.Nigeria was behind by merely 4 factors midway through the 2nd fourth. That is actually when Reeve went to Plum, that was the 12th and final player to enter the ready the Americans. Plum promptly modified the video game along with her passing away as well as velocity on the offending point, giving out 3 easy supports and also toenailing a 3-pointer. Plum completed with only 6 points yet her six-minute shift to finish the initial one-half resulted in a plus-11 on the scoreboard to press the lead to 19 at half. The U.S. then started the second half on a 15-0 run as well as the tension was provided for the evening.Editor's Picks1 RelatedWilson and Stewart, who entered the game balancing a matching 20.3 points every video game, played their brand name of skillful tormenter sphere. Wilson invested 20 aspects on 9-of-11 shooting with 11 rebounds and pair of blocks. Stewart possessed 13 points on 5-of-7 shooting with 5 rebounds and three assists.Brittney Griner went over the bench to rating 11 points on 4-of-5 shooting. Those three interior markers incorporating for 16-of-21 is actually tough to beat.The U.S. got into the activity averaging 29 aids as well as once again placed on a ball-sharing medical clinic through constructing 31 more.Promise Amukamara led Nigeria, which reduced the top down to as low as 13 in the 4th one-fourth, along with 19 points. The game ended with a little bit of edge when the USA's Kahleah Copper received a technical filthy for tossing the ball at Nigeria's Ezinne Kalu after she racked up in the final seconds.