Team effort leads USA U-17s past Italy

Mercedes Russell attempts the shot between two defenders, Russell had eleven rebounds in the win over Italy. (Photo courtesy of USA Basketball)

The Under-17 National Team had five players in double figures en route to an 83-43 victory over Italy in the FIBA World Championship on Sunday in Amsterdam.

Rebecca Greenwell led the effort with 16 points and nine rebounds, including four three-pointers in the second half.

“The first half I was really cold from behind the arc, and then I made my first shot of the second half, and that just kind of got me going,” said Greenwell of her performance. “That's what gave me some momentum though the second half.”

Adding to the group effort, Taya Reimer put up 12 points and Linnea Harper, Diamond DeShields and Brianna Turner each added 11. Mercedes Russell grabbed 11 rebounds to go with her six points as every player on the roster scored with the exception of Jessica Washington, who didn’t play because of a pulled muscle.

“We definitely played really well,” said Reimer, who is committed to Notre Dame. “It was just a really good game in general. Sometimes we start bad or we will end slow, but it was just four quarters of really good basketball.”

Italy scored the first four points of the game, but that would be their only lead.  Team USA rattled off 10 straight points and eventually led by 12 points at the end of the first quarter.  The US then clamped down on defense and held Italy to just six points in the second quarter and nine points in the third. The Italians shot a dismal 16.5 percent from the floor and were 10.7 percent from behind the arc. making just three of 28.

Meanwhile, things were the opposite for Team USA, which shot 52 percent from the field and won the battle of the boards 59-40.  Another stat of note: Harper went 7-of-7 from the free throw line, tying a U-17 record.

The USA, which is now 3-0 in preliminary play, will have a day off and will resume play on Tuesday against Belgium.