USA U 19, Moore defeat China 88-62 in Pool Play Sunday -- Monday Cardinal Couple

Moore with nine points, three assists in 26-point win

The USA U 19 team jumped out to a 12 point first quarter lead Sunday in Chekhov, Russia against the Chinese U 19 squad and steadily increased upon that as the game progressed...winning 88-62 to go 2-0 in pool play.

Louisville's soon-to-be-sophomore Mariya Moore played 20 minutes in the romp, hitting 2-4 of her trifecta attempts and ending with nine points and a team high three assists...all points scored in the second half. She worked well with the USA bigs again in today's game. 

They all bring a really big presence,” said Mariya Moore (Louisville/Richmond, Calif.) regarding her team’s post players. “I think that other teams focus on our inside, and even though they focus on it, we still get enough points inside.”

Another slow start for USA, who started Moore, A'ja Wilson, Gabby Ortiz, Napheesa Collier and Azura Stevens...trailing 9-8 after the first two minutes. When in doubt, go inside to A'ja Wilson and the USA responded with a 10-2 run over the next 150 seconds to lead 17-11 after a Collier three. 

Crystal Dangerfield hits her second buzzer beat of the tournament to make it 29-17 after 10.

Chatrice White goes for two against China

Lauren Cox may need free throw work...but she passes well and a nice feed to Shakayla Thomas gave USA a 31-17 lead early in the 2nd quarter. Mariya Moore re-entered the game shortly after and fed Cox inside to make it 35-20 with 6:35 to play. 

These officials were whistle-happy on travelling today (especially if you had USA across your jersey) but USA finished the half on a 20-9 run...following a Ortiz three with eight seconds left in the half. 

Mariya Moore got USA on the board finally...two minutes into the third quarter (another slow start to a half) with a free throw but Wilson returned to sidelines after tweaking the ankle she strained yesterday at the 5:26 mark....ending with 17 points in fifteen minutes. Moore responded to rally USA with back-to-back assists to Collier, a breakaway layup with 2:18 remaining and a three-pointer with 1:34 in the quarter to make it 72-45 USA. 

Mariya picked right up where she left off in the third by starting the fourth quarter with a three at the 9:43 mark...giving USA their biggest lead of the day at 79-47. She would eventually sit for the rest of the game a few minutes later and Shakayla Thomas took over for USA...who went on to win by 26. 

SOME PAULIE OBSERVATIONS:

--  KBA was back on the sidelines for USA today coaching. She's part of the three-part hand-off where....after a timeout...Staley hands the clipboard to Walz and goes to stand by the sidelines. Walz takes the clipboard and deftly hands it to Barnes-Arico who gets it to her seat on the bench safely and handles it until time-outs.

-- The Chinese line-up had two Wangs and two Xhangs. Once again, the rosters on the screen showed #14 as just "A" again for USA. (Maybe it's A'ja's nickname in Chekhov?) 

-- USA in white today. Didn't hear Walz yell "Go Big Blue" all afternoon. KBA had to be disappointed...Michigan is blue and she missed it yesterday. 

-- For the second day in a row, they shorten the USA national anthem in the pregame introductions. What's up with that? It's not like it's a 10 minute opus or anything. Communist plot, right? 

-- Kristine Anigwe dressed but didn't play. Probably the reason USA played Lauren Cox a lot. (18 minutes). Report was Kristine was a little under the weather. Too much caviar and borscht will do that to you. Feel better soon, KA. USA plays Egypt (0-2) Tuesday. 


paulie
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