July 28, 2009
BANGKOK, Thailand – Nnemkadi Ogwumike posted her third double-double in five games to lead the 2009 USA U19 World Championship Team (4-1) past Russia (4-1) 75-56 in FIBA U19 World Championship second round action on Tuesday afternoon in Bangkok, Thailand. Ogwumike scored eight of her game-high 12 points and grabbed seven of her game-high 13 rebounds in the fourth quarter as the U.S. dominated Russia 20-6 in the final stanza to seal the win.
In addition to Oguwumike, the USA’s winning effort was aided by Shenise Johnson’s 11 points and nine boards, Samantha Prahalis had 10 points and dished out seven assists, Skylar Diggins also contributed 10 points, Chay Shegog came off the bench for nine points and six rebounds, and LaSondra Barrett checked in for eight points and seven boards.
The U.S. closes second round play against Japan (2-3) on July 29 (2:00 a.m. EDT).
The USA ran out to a 9-3 lead to open the game. Russia tied the score at 15-all with 2:40 to go in the first quarter, but at the buzzer the Americans were back up by six points, 23-17.
Swapping baskets through most of the second period, Layshia Clarendon hit a three near the end of the first half to give her side a 40-32 advantage heading into the locker room.
The third period got started with Russia jumping back in front, 45-44, at 6:27. During their 13-4 run, the Russians nailed a pair of threes and held the U.S. to 2-of-8 shots from the field. The game remained close over the next several minutes and at 2:56 Tatiana Grigoryeva hit a 3-pointer that tied the game for the last time at 50-50.
Barrett scored off an inbounds pass at 2:23 to give the United States the lead for good, 52-50. From there the red, white and blue forced Russia into a pair of turnovers and missing all six of its shots from the field as the U.S. closed the period up by five points, 55-50.
The fourth quarter was all USA as the Americans outscored Russia 20-6 in the final stanza. Ripping off 10 unanswered points to start the period, the USA’s defense held Russia scoreless for over five minutes as the Europeans missed their first 10 attempts. By the time Russia put up its first points of the quarter, the U.S. owned the game, 65-52 with 4:31 to play.
Russia, which hit its second basket of the fourth quarter with 1:48 to play, shot a frigid 15.8 percent (3-19 FGs) from the field in the final 10 minutes of the game, including 0-of-7 from 3-point range. In contrast, the USA, which outrebounded Russia 15-6 in the fourth quarter, hit 40.0 percent (6-15 FGs) from the field.
The United States outrebounded Russia 50-34 and scored 48 of its points in the paint. Russia shot just 26.3 percent (20-76 FGs) from the field, slightly better than its 24.1 percent (7-29 3pt FGs) from 3-point range.
Anastasia Shilova and Grigoryeva came off the bench to tie as Russia’s top scorers with seven points apiece. Russia’s leading scorer through the first four games, Anastasia Logunova, picked up her third foul just 6:37 into the game and was held to six points in 19 minutes.
The second round runs through July 29. The top four finishing teams in each second round group will advance to compete in the July 31 quarterfinals. Semifinal action is scheduled for Aug. 1 and the gold medal will be contested on Aug. 2.
