Wilson's 22 Points Leads U.S. into Olympic Quarterfinals

TOKYO – For the third time in as many games, South Carolina alumna A’ja Wilson led the U.S. in scoring as the Americans claimed a 93-82 win over France in the final game of preliminary round action at the Tokyo Olympics. The U.S. advances to the quarterfinals, where it will face Australia on Wed., Aug. 4, at 12:40 p.m. ET.
 
The U.S. opened the game on a 9-2 run but saw France surge to a 22-19 advantage at the end of the first quarter. After tying the game at 39-39 midway through the second quarter, the teams battled to halftime with the Americans holding a 50-44 advantage.
 
Turnovers had the U.S. on the back foot in the third quarter, helping France cut into its deficit. Holding a 71-67 lead in the fourth, the Americans saw France continue its momentum to take a 72-71 lead less than a minute into the final period. The U.S. righted the ship with seven straight points, including a pair of buckes off assists from Wilson. Midway through the quarter a Jewell Loyd 3-pointer made it a 10-point game, which was enough to hold off the French.
 
“I thought at times we made great adjustments, and I thought at other times it looked like a team that hadn’t had a whole lot of practice,” U.S. head coach Dawn Staley said. “But we found a way to win. I’m super proud of our team that we’re able to take people’s best punch, and we continue to fight, and we continue to find a way to win basketball games. That is tribute to the players in their ability to make big plays.”

Wilson’s 22 points led all scorers, and her seven rebounds tied Breanna Stewart for team-high honors.
 
Other Gamecock Women’s Basketball Olympic News
South Carolina rising junior Laeticia Amihere and Canada dropped its final preliminary round game to Spain on Saturday, missing out on advancing to the quarterfinals with a 1-2 preliminary round record.