Stewart's double-double leads USA to win over Argentina

UConn bound Breanna Stewart led Team USA to a win over Argentina with 17 points and 12 rebounds. (File photo by Kelly Kline)

Breanna Stewart’s 17-point, 12-rebound double-double led Team USA to a 68-28 win over Argentina on the second day of play in the FIBA Americas U18 Championship in Puerto Rico. 

"I just wanted to let the game come to me," said Stewart, who is an incoming freshman for the UConn Huskies. "They were pressuring a lot of our players and it left people open. I just got some good looks."

"She’s amazing. She’s a silent assassin," said USA guard Lexie Brown of Stewart's performance. "I think she’s an amazing player, from one through five (positions)."

Team USA, who never trailed, opened the game with a 9-0 run, holding Argentina scoreless for the first five minutes of the game.  USA led 18-6 at the end of the first then outscored Argentina 17-4 in the second quarter, including a 13-0 run, to open up a 25-point halftime lead. 

Argentina shot 18 percent from the field, connecting on just 11-of-61 shot attempts.  Team USA wasn’t exactly on fire, shooting 37 percent from the field, but shot 43 percent from behind the arc.  Team USA hit seven of 16 three point attempts, including three by Stewart and two treys by both Brown and Michaela Mabrey.

Defensively the USA dominated scoring 14 points off of Argentina turnovers and a total of 38 points in the paint.  In addition, Team USA out-rebounded Argentina 57-41.  Other scoring leaders for the United States included Mabrey with 13 (and four assists) and Morgan Tuck with 12.  Moriah Jefferson had a game high six assists.

During the first quarter Jannah Tucker went down with a knee injury, though the extent of the injury is unclear.

The United States is now 2-0 in preliminary round play and will face Colombia at 3:45 on Friday.  The games can be viewed live on http://www.fibaamericas.com