U.S. Moves to 2-1 2023 FIBA Women's AmeriCup, Falls to Brazil 54-67

Taina Paixao

The top-ranked U.S. was upset by 13th-ranked Brazil 67-54 on Tuesday in a battle for first place in Group A at the 2023 FIBA AmeriCup in Leon, Mexico. The loss snapped a 19-game AmeriCup winning streak for the Americans, who are represented by college all-stars competing against older professionals from other countries. Lauren Betts (201-C-2003) (UCLA), inserted into the starting lineup to counter Brazil's size, led the U.S. with 11 points and 15 rebounds. Rickea Jackson (188-F-2001) (Tennessee) added 10 points for the Americans, who will need to beat Cuba on Wednesday at 2:10 p.m. ET to secure second place in Group A. Cuba (1-2) beat Argentina 66-63 Tuesday. Taina Paixao (175-G-1991) scored 14 of her 23 points in the second half to keep the U.S. at bay and help Brazil, playing its fourth game in as many days, finish Group A play 4-0. Brazil's roster includes 41-year-old post player Erika De Souza (197-C-1982), who had seven points and seven rebounds. 'All of us are very elite players coming from different colleges,' said U.S. guard Raven Johnson (South Carolina), who had eight points and three rebounds. 'We hate losing, so I hope this puts fuel to the fire for us tomorrow and we come out with the fire and intensity and the grit and tenacity and beat Cuba. Brazil, now 5-3 against the U.S. at the AmeriCup, used not only used its experience but a swarming defense to frustrate the Americans. Brazil, which has won an AmeriCup-best five gold medals, forced the U.S. into 21 turnovers and had a 24-5 advantage in converting turnovers into points. Brazil had nine turnovers. The U.S., seeking to win an unprecedented third straight AmeriCup, had four assists while shooting 30.8% from the field (16-52 FG). 'I just think it's a bad-rhythm offense right now,' Mary Ethridge said. 'We don't know where the shots are coming. That's my job as the coach to make sure our kids are in better position and handle what the other teams are doing. We just have struggled offensively. And you know, quite frankly, I think defensively, 67 points to Brazil is probably good enough. We just had to find ways to put points on the board.' Neither team shot well in the opening 10 minutes, with the U.S. going 3-of-10 (.300%) and Brazil 6-of-17 (.353%). The Americans did get to the free throw line, going 5-of-9 but saw Brazil scored the final six points of the first quarter for a 15-12 lead. It marked the first time the U.S. trailed at the end of any quarter in the tournament. Brazil had the first four points of the second quarter for a 10-0 run and 19-12 lead. Combined with 13 first half turnovers, seven in the second quarter, and an 8-0 Brazil run, the U.S. was down 30-16, its biggest deficit of the tournament at that point. But the U.S. showed some moxie to close the first half, going on a 9-5 run, with Johnson hitting a jumper at the buzzer to trim Brazil's advantage to 35-25. Unfortunately, the U.S. didn't solve Brazil's defense in the second half and the South Americans, who have won the last two AmeriCup bronze medals and are seeking their first gold since 2011, held on for the win. 'We had 21 turnovers so that just tells us that we need to share the ball a bit more,' Johnson said. 'We need to find the open person. Coach always says that the ball will find whoever's open. We have to work on a little bit of defense because these teams have been together for a longer amount of time and we (have) just been together for just like two, three weeks. So we definitely want to buy in, look at film and try to focus on what we need to improve on.'
Courtesy of: usab.com

Tags : TAINA PAIXAO, BRAZILIAN BASKETBALL