Sports

U. S. females's hoops pulverizes Nigeria, reaches Olympic semis

.Brian Windhorst, ESPN Elderly Person WriterAug 7, 2024, 05:28 PM ETCloseESPN.com NBA article writer considering that 2010.Covered Cleveland Cavs for 7 years.Author of pair of booksPARIS-- The mixture of A'ja Wilson and also Breanna Stewart has shown to become a devasting combo for the Crew USA women, to the point where there is actually an instance cultivating that they could possibly discuss the Olympics Most Prized Possession Player Award.But there's a brand new duo arising, though not an unexpected one, that's proved to become a big boost as the Americans pursue one more gold medal.Las Las vega Aces colleagues Kelsey Plum and Jackie Young have actually improved to be difference-makers in France as well as played key duties in Team U.S.A.'s 88-74 victory over Nigeria in the quarterfinals.It denoted the team's 59th consecutive Olympic triumph and also establishes a semifinal match against Australia, winners over Serbia Wednesday, on Friday at 3 p.m. ET.Jackie Young finished with double-digit factors for the second straight game, shooting 60% coming from the field in the United States' draw Nigeria. CAROLINE BREHMAN/EPA-EFE/ShutterstockCoach Cheryl Reeve moved Young into the starting sequence instead of pro Diana Taurasi versus Nigeria, a crew known for participating in high stress full-court self defense that challenges setting against guards.It was a perks after Young scored 19 factors along with four takes off the seat in the ultimate pool play activity against Germany. She answered along with yet another superb efficiency, having fun with energy at each ends along with another Aces colleague, Chelsea Gray, in the backcourt.Young scored 15 factors and also aided lug the USA outburst early in the game as the Americans got off to a little a lethargic beginning through their standards.Nigeria lagged by only four factors midway via the 2nd one-fourth. That's when Reeve visited Plum, that was actually the 12th and last player to get into the ready the Americans. Plum quickly modified the activity with her passing away and velocity on the annoying point, serving up three quick supports and also toenailing a 3-pointer. Plum do with merely six points but her six-minute shift to end up the 1st one-half led to a plus-11 on the scoreboard to drive the cause 19 at fifty percent. The USA then began the 2nd half on a 15-0 run and the stress and anxiety was actually done for the evening.Editor's Picks1 RelatedWilson and also Stewart, that entered the video game averaging a matching 20.3 scores per game, played their brand of experienced oppressor round. Wilson put in 20 factors on 9-of-11 capturing with 11 rebounds and pair of blocks. Stewart possessed thirteen aspects on 5-of-7 capturing with 5 rebounds and 3 assists.Brittney Griner came off the seat to rating 11 points on 4-of-5 firing. Those three interior scorers incorporating for 16-of-21 is difficult to beat.The U.S. got into the video game balancing 29 helps as well as once again placed on a ball-sharing medical clinic through constructing 31 more.Promise Amukamara led Nigeria, which cut the top to as reduced as 13 in the fourth one-fourth, along with 19 points. The video game finished along with a little bit of edge when the united state's Kahleah Copper received a specialized foul for tossing the reception at Nigeria's Ezinne Kalu after she racked up in the final secs.