(Moore) of the same...USA blasts Egypt 104-41 to close Pool Play -- Wednesday Cardinal Couple

MOORE'S 15 HELP USA ERASE EGYPT

The USA couldn't have been too worried about playing Egypt yesterday in the final round of pool play at the FIBA U 19 World Championships...after all, the Egyptians were 0-2 in games against Spain and China...teams that USA dispatched with relative ease. I know, you never overlook anyone...but this one seemed to be a romp-waiting-to-happen. 

For the first five minutes, though...Egypt looked like they belonged. A combination of shots that wouldn't fall and a slow start had the USA trailing Egypt 7-6 halfway through the first quarter. Five of Egypt's points had come from incoming WKU freshman Nadine Salaawi. She could be a good one for Michelle Clark Heard.


It was time shake it up a bit so USA head coach Dawn Staley brought in Shakayla Thomas, Lauren Cox, Crystal Dangerfield, Chatrice White and Jeff Walz...oops, Ali Patberg. The mass substitution worked and USA went on a 8-2 run to take a 14-9 lead at the end of the first quarter. 

It just got worse for Egypt after that. 

52-18 at halftime....another buzzer beater by USA...this time Gabby Ortiz with the putback to end the half. Egypt played on a even keel with the USA squad in the third quarter...but trailed 80-41 at the end of three...getting their final basket of the game with 35 seconds in the third.

You read that right. USA pitched a 24-0 shutout in the final quarter. 

"Don't worry about it, Tommy. I got this covered." 

Mariya Moore and "Shaq" Thomas led USA with 15 points. "A" Wilson added 14 and Lauren Cox had an impressive 10 points and 17 rebounds against the diminutive Egyptians.

Moore stat line looked pretty decent. 5/6 from the floor, including 3/4 from three point range. She also hit both her free throws. No steals and 14 minutes of playing time. All the USA players saw at least 14 minutes and they all scored. 

So...the USA squad advances into the round of 16 and will face up against 0-3 Argentina today. It's a 10:30 a.m. start, according to the USA Basketball site and can be watched live at YouTube.com/FIBA

Other undefeated team are Russia, Australia and Belgium.

Paulie Observations

-- I'm gonna admit I didn't watch this one from start to finish...just the highlights...but if Lauren Cox could play her entire career against Egypt, she'd be the next "Stewie".

-- We want asst. coaches observations! All the quotes come out of Staley...and, yes, she is the head coach...but KBA and Walz are working just as hard. Give them the damn microphone...

-- USA had a 63-20 rebounding edge. A lot of that was because Egypt shot 25%. 

-- China knocked off Spain 66-63 yesterday to finish second in the Group B pool. Out of the eight games yesterday, USA was, by far, the team who scored the most points. Next was Australia with 87 against South Korea. 

-- And, in the "Gee, ya think so?"/Captain Obvious quote of yesterday...we bring you Coach Staley's observations on playing Argentina:

" We're going to have to get the ball inside." 

Uh....yeah....that could work.

Or maybe USA could stand behind the half-court line and bomb threes for four quarters?  

paulie
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