Mariya Moore "steals" the show in 72-57 USA U 19 win -- Sunday Cardinal Couple

MOORE GETS FIVE STEALS IN ONE MINUTE AGAINST SPAIN

In what must surely be some kind of FIBA or International women's basketball competition record...Mariya Moore started out the fourth quarter of the pool play game against Spain with five straight steals in five consecutive possessions. The thefts led to a layup and two assists 
and pushed the USA lead to 67-40 with 8:58 to go in the fourth quarter. 

(Other writers are saying four steals...I saw five. Maybe one got officially credited as a turnover...but I say it was a steal. Went back and watched it again. Five steals.) 

Spain even took a time out after her fourth steal. It didn't matter...they came out of the huddle and she intercepted another pass and took it down court for an assist.

She looked like former UofL cornerback Gerald Holliman picking off an ACC quarterback. 


USA led 70-40 with 7:46 to play. At the 4 minute mark, Dawn Staley had reserves Chatrice White, Ali Patberg, Lauren Cox, Gabby Ortiz and Destiny Slocum in for mop up work on a 70-44 score.

No offense intended here...but with the four white girls left on the roster and the new kid who had been on a plane for 24 hours in the game... Spain outscored USA 13-2 over that final stretch. The game was way over by then. 

Moore had nine points for USA...getting the start. A slow start for USA and a brief scare when A'ja Wilson went crashing to the floor holding her ankle just two minutes into the contest. Fortunately, she returned several minutes later but USA led just 15-13 after 10...a Crystal Dangerfield three giving them the advantage.

This USA team looks to be at its best when they get the ball down low to Wilson, Napheesa Collier, Shakayla Thomas or Kristine Anigwe and once they started doing that...plus doubling down defensively on the Spanish ball-handlers...they pushed out to a 36-24 halftime lead. Wilson had two straight steals in the second quarter and Moore sat the bench the entire second quarter.

Why do people pose for pictures with their
hands over their crotch area? 

Give Spain credit for trying to keep it close. Two consecutive threes early in the third quarter narrowed it to 41-35 but the USA went on a 18-5 run to finish the third quarter and held a 19 point 59-40 lead before the Moore theatrics. 

Mariya finished with nine points...Wilson had 18 for USA and Thomas and Collier found double figures, too.

USA takes on China today in pool play. China defeated Egypt 73-60 yesterday.




SOME PAULIE OBSERVATIONS

-- I didn't see KBA (Kim Barnes Arico) on the USA bench. Squirrel hunting with Putin? 

-- I could definitely hear Walz from the bench. How strange is it to hear him yell "Way to go, Blue!" or "Nice job blue!" Is this the doppelganger Jeff Walz...who has embraced the Blue? 

-- Uh...what's Destiny Slocum doing on the bench? Answer:  She flew in to replace Katie Lou Samuelson. From Idaho. 24 hours on a plane. Arrive in time for warmups. Welcome to Moscow, comrade!

-- It's a 24 second clock in International play. I kinda like it...

-- I was OK with the YouTube, lack-of- announcers broadcast. I did notice that they aren't the best scorekeepers around, though. 

-- When they flashed the rosters on the screen...they listed #8 as Angel Salvadores Alvarez. What, she got married? The jersey still said Salvadores, though. 

-- The USA roster screen-listing left off Napheesa Collier and had #14 listed simply as "A". (A'ja Wilson). 

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ANOTHER GOLD FOR KELSI

UofLswimmer Kelsi Worrell picked up another gold medal in the 400 MR last night. Best swimmer in UofL women's swim team history? WTG Kelsi Whirl! Tearin' up Toronto! 



paulie
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