Spartan Aerial Powers And Team USA Remain Undefeated With Win Over Czech Republic At World University Games
The U.S. wins Group B with 92-54 win over the Czech Republic.
MUAN, South Korea - Michigan State women’s basketball player Aerial Powers and the World University Games team improved to 3-0 with a dominating 92-54 win over Czech Republic Monday night, as the U.S. led wire-to-wire. With the win, team USA was the only undefeated team in Group B as the Czech Republic finished 2-1.
The USA will advance to the medal round quarterfinals on July 9, where it will play the No. 2 seed from Group A, Hungary at 7 a.m. EDT.
“It felt good to finally have everyone play as well as we know we all can, defensively and offensively. We really came together today and played as a team. We are looking forward to playing in the medal round, after a little rest,†Powers said.
Powers continued her solid play with 17 points and seven rebounds in 24 minutes. The forward was 7-for-9 from the field and a perfect 2-for-2 from beyond the arc. She also added three assists, three steals and a block in a well-rounded performance. Powers has scored in double digits in all three World University Games. She is averaging 16.3 points and 6.0 rebounds per game.
As a team, the United States shot 55 percent (40-for-73) against the Czech Republic, while its defense held its opponent to only 28 percent (19-for-68). Both marks are the best it has had in the three games.
“I thought we really were balanced,†said USA head coach Joe McKeown (Northwestern). “We came out in the second quarter, and I thought, defensively, took over the game. We rebounded really well and forced them into some tough shots. They had played well the last two games, and our defensive was the big key today.â€
Mercedes Russell of Tennessee and Powers continued to dominate during the third quarter. Powers opened the quarter with a 3-pointer, one of two she would nail during the third. Russell added six more of her game-high 18 points, including two with 3:00 to go that pushed the advantage to more than 30 for the first time in the game.
The semifinals are on July 11, the bronze medal game is on July 12 and the gold medal game is set for July 13.
Powers is the first Spartan women’s basketball player to represent the United States since Allyssa DeHaan helped Team USA win the gold medal at the 2007 FIBA U-19 World Championships. Head coach Suzy Merchant was also an assistant coach for the USA Basketball women’s team that won the Gold Medal at the World University Games in 2009.
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