RODEZ (FIBA U17 World Championship for Women) – Despite having already secured their place in the quarter-finals of the FIBA U17 World Championship for Women, the USA did not use their last Group A game against Japan to rest up and instead proved dominant in beating them 133-71.

The result saw Barbara Nelson’s charges finish the Preliminary Round with a perfect 5-0 mark. They scored 100 points or more for the second time.

Like they did against Turkey on Tuesday, the Americans scored the game’s first nine points and ran away with it from there. They had a 23-point lead, 35-12, by the end of the first quarter.

Breanna Stewart had 13 points in the period alone. She went on to finish with 30 to go along with seven rebounds and three blocks.

The Japanese, who lack in height, were dominated on the boards, getting out-rebounded 66-27.

They trailed 61-27 at the break and 98-60 after the third quarter. They relied heavily on three-point shooting, launching 39 attempts and converting only 10.

The pair of Yuki Miyazawa and Moeko Nagaoka who had been key to Japan's two wins, combined for only 19 points.

Quotes

Barbara Nelson (USA head coach): I’m very satisfied with the way the girls played. We knew that the Japanese were very fast and we tried to stop their speed with our size.

Shinichiro Hayashi (Japan head coach): It was difficult. We will have to step up our game and stay focused on our strength, which is our quickness. We are not as tall as the Americans, so we must rely on our aggressiveness.

FIBA/LOC