The Las Vegas Aces’ backcourt had it going in Team USA’s 121-59 victory over Bosnia and Herzegovina in Sydney on Tuesday, the final day of group play for the 2022 FIBA World Cup. Kelsey Plum (20 points) and Chelsea Gray (16 points) each had seven assists as they paced the Americans in the blowout. Plum’s plus/minus was 55.
Back-to-back games where the USA surpasses its previous World Cup scoring record of 119. USA records 145 points yesterday (a WC record for any team), 121 today in win versus Bosnia.
Final: 121-59
Next up: quarterfinals
— Alexa Philippou (@alexaphilippou) September 27, 2022
Plum was 8-of-11 from the floor while Gray was 4-of-5 from three. A’ja Wilson (7-of-8 from field, 14 points) and Shakira Austin (7-of-9 from field, 15 points) added to the efficient effort as Team USA shot 65.8 percent from the field as a team and 8-of-16 from three.
Breanna Stewart (seven boards) and Brionna Jones (five boards) were also in the teens in scoring with 15 and 14 points, respectively. Kahleah Copper added 11 points and six rebounds. She started in place of Jewell Loyd, who was resting.
Jewell Loyd will not play today due to rest, per USA Basketball. Team back down to 11 players.
— Alexa Philippou (@alexaphilippou) September 27, 2022
Wilson led the team in steals with four. Also notable were five-assist performances from Ariel Atkins (three steals) and Sabrina Ionescu.
Chelsea Gray scored her 16 points with 16 minutes and 39 seconds of playing time while Austin scored her 15 in just 13:09. Team USA spread out the minutes with nobody playing more than Plum’s 27:29. B. Jones was the next-closest at 22:12.
The U.S. won the first quarter 33-15, the second 30-16, the third 29-13 and the fourth 29-15.
WNBA superstar Jonquel Jones had seven points (2-of-3 from distance) and 10 rebounds in defeat. She accounted for nearly half of Bosnia and Herzegovina’s rebounds as the U.S. won that battle 44-21. Nikolina Elez notched 19 points to lead B&H.
B&H took nearly twice as many threes (31) as the Americans but made the same amount as them. It also attempted just one free throw to Team USA’s 11. The U.S. forced 23 turnovers while committing just seven and won fast break points 34-0.
Team USA finishes as the only 5-0 team in group play and in first place in Group A. It will be advancing to the quarterfinals. B&H will not as it finishes 0-5 (last place Group A).
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