USA Advances to AmeriCup Quarterfinals with 106-44 Win over Cuba

05 July 2023

USA 106, CUB 44

The USA wrapped up Group A competition at the 2023 FIBA Women's AmeriCup with a 106-44 victory over Cuba Wednesday afternoon in Leon, Mexico.

The U.S. will be back in action for the quarterfinals Friday with the opponent and gametime TBD following the conclusion of today’s games. The USA will play Group B’s third-seeded team, which will be the winner of tonight’s matchup between Colombia and Mexico. The quarterfinals will air live on Courtside 1891 (USA games stream free to subscribers in the U.S.).

Since the event’s inception in 1989, the United States has captured four Women’s AmeriCup gold medals, including titles in 2019 and 2021.

View the USA-Cuba box score here.

TEAM NOTES

Historically Speaking: The meeting was the seventh between the USA and Cuba, with the United States owning a 5-2 series advantage. The USA is 33-8 overall in the Women’s AmeriCup.

Start-Up: For the fourth-straight game, the USA employed a new starting lineup. Wednesday’s lineup included Rickea Jackson, Raven Johnson, Charisma Osborne, Laila Phelia and Angel Reese. Jackson, Osborne and Reese have started all four games, while Phelia started for the first time today.

Project Runway: Cuba led 8-5 at the 6:13 mark of the first quarter. The United States responded with an 8-0 run over the next 70 seconds, capped by a Deja Kelly 3-pointer. The U.S. owned a 27-14 advantage at the end of the first quarter.

The second quarter began with the USA scoring 12 of the first 14 points and not allowing a Cuba score until the 7:38 mark. Cuba called a timeout with 5:59 to go in the quarter as the scoreboard read 39-16 in favor of the Americans. The U.S. outscored Cuba 33-4 in the second quarter and led 60-18 at half.

Three’s Company: The United States made a tournament-high-tying five 3-pointers in the first half, matching their game high vs. Argentina (7/2/23). The U.S. went on to connect on nine 3s for the game (9-23; .391%), led by three from Janiah Barker, who had 13 points (10 in second half).

7th Heaven: The U.S. saw seven players score in double-figures led by Lauren Bett’s 17 and followed by Jackson (16), Barker (13), Reese (12), Abbey Hsu (11) and Kelly and Jewel Spear (10). Barker, Betts, Hsu, Kelly, Reese and Spear each had their highest scoring outputs of the week.

Big Shot: The USA enjoyed their best shooting game of the tournament at 46.3% (37-80 FG, 9-23 3FG) from the field, while holding Cuba to 24.3% (17-70 FG, 1-6 3FG). The USA had (25) assists, surpassing their tournament-high of 21 vs. Venezuela (7/1/23).

PLAYER NOTES

Double Trouble: Betts fell one rebound shy of a first half double-double before grabbing the 10th board midway through the third quarter for her third-consecutive double-double. After recording 10 points, nine rebounds and two blocks in the first half, she finished with a game-high 17 points (6-6 FG, 5-8 FT), 14 rebounds and three blocks.

Reese recorded her first double-double of 12 points (4-7 FG, 4-10 FT), 14 rebounds and one assist. She notched eight offensive boards and had her second 14-rebound game of the AmeriCup (15 vs. ARG, 7/2/23).

Downto(w)n Abbey: Hsu scored her first points of the competition Wednesday. She contributed eight points in the first half, connecting on a pair of 3-pointers, and added two rebounds and two blocks in 6:28 of action. Her final stat line included 11 points (3-6 FG, 2-4 3FG, 3-3 FT), two rebounds, one assist, one steal and two blocks.

Action Jackson: As she did in the first three games, Jackson continued to help pace the United States’ offense with 16 points (5-12 FG, 6-6 FT). Jackson scored a game-high 12 first half points. She’s scored in double-figures in each outing and is averaging a team-best 13.5 points in the competition.