Harris Guides U.S. to FIBA U19 Quarterfinal Victory
July 28, 2017
UDINE, Italy — South Carolina guard Tyasha Harris and the United States moved into the FIBA U19 World Cup medal semifinals with a 78-51 win over France in the quarterfinal round at Palasport Primo Carnera on Friday. The Gamecocks’ rising sophomore finished with 12 points, a team-high six assists and four rebounds in 28 minutes of action.
For the second-straight game, Harris was active early, contributing to the Americans’ first seven points with three throws, an assist and a 3-pointer in the opening four minutes. France surged from there, opening a 16-9 lead on the U.S. with 3:36 to go in the opening period. Harris provided the comeback spark, reeling in a defensive rebound and converting a layup on the other end. She set up a teammate for a basket on the Americans’ next possession to make it a three-point game with 2:04 to go in the first quarter, and the U.S. clawed back to even at 18-18 as the quarter closed.
A low-scoring second quarter for both teams went the U.S.’s way as Harris checked in with 6:35 to go in the half to help a 9-4 run aided by a 3:45 scoring drought by the French, which sent the Americans into the locker room with a 30-22 halftime lead.
The United States got separation in the third quarter, and a pair of Harris assists helped stretch the lead to double digits less than two minutes into the period. France battled back, though, cutting their deficit in half two minutes later. The Americans closed the quarter by relentlessly attacking the basket to draw fouls, which they converted into points from the free throw line to establish a 55-40 advantage heading into the final period.
That lead continued to grow in the fourth quarter with Harris adding four points to the offensive effort and picking up a steal.
With the win, the U.S. advances to the medal semifinals where the Americans will take on Japan on Saturday. Canada and Russia square off in the other medal semifinal game with the winners of each meeting on Sunday at 3:00 p.m. ET to decide the gold and silver medals.
All games will stream live online on the USA Basketball Facebook page, YouTube.com/FIBA and via the website http://www.fiba.basketball/world/u19women/2017/videos/.
