Saturday and Sunday brought very different lopsided wins for Team USA's women's basketball team to open Pool A play at the FIBA U19 World Cup.
Saturday was a show of offensive might that had never been seen before as USA defeated Korea 134-53.
On Sunday, however, Team USA didn't have its best offensive showing against Hungary. The Americans managed fewer points in their 79-49 victory over Hungary than Israel had scored a day prior in an 86-82 loss to the Hungarians. And Israel only won by two points (63-61) on Sunday against the Korea team that USA had just dismantled.
Spacing collapsed a bit in the half court as USA went just 3-16 from three, and the Americans even struggled badly from the free throw line where they went 16-30. Hungary managed to limit USA's transition game, and while the outcome was never in doubt, it was a major offensive struggle by the USA's standards. Before USA finished on an 11-0 run, it led only 68-49 with half a quarter to go and 59-43 after three quarters.
So when shots aren't falling and fast breaks aren't breaking, who better to lead the team to a grind-it-out victory than the best post player in the tournament – 6-foot-4 incoming UCLA freshman and reigning Sporting News National High School Player of the Year Sienna Betts?
After leading Team USA with 25 points on 11-12 shooting to go with four assists in under 20 minutes of action against Korea, Betts again took over on Sunday despite having an off-night scoring the ball.
Betts was second on the team with 13 points on 4-11 FG and 5-11 FT, but she was phenomenal on the less glamorous side of the ball in a brilliant team-wide display of defense to beat Hungary. The Grandview (CO) product finished with a game-high 13 rebounds, five blocks, and plus-minus of +27 while adding three steals.
Despite the underwhelming offensive showing for Team USA, its victory was never in down thanks in large part to Betts. It's only been two games, but she's already the clear MVP frontrunner for the tournament.
Other top performers on Team USA included Kate Harpring (game-high 15 points in 17 minutes), Jazzy Davidson (12 points, five assists, and two steals on 5-10 shooting), Jerzy Robinson (12 points, nine rebounds, and three assists on 5-8 shooting in under 20 minutes), Kayleigh Heckel (game-high seven assists and five steals), and Saniyah Hall (10 points, seven rebounds, and two steals in 13:10).
USA finishes pool play on Tuesday as the overwhelming favorite against Israel.
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