In claiming their third consecutive FIBA Americas U16 Championship for Women the USA posted some eye-catching numbers on their five game path to gold. As a team and individually there were some stats that would keep any coach happy and employed at any level high school, collage or professional. In qualifying for next year’s U17 World Championships the red, white and blue were dominant from start to finish leading all but three team statistical categories (steals, turnover margin and FT percentage) leaving little doubt about the United States next promising generation of international basketball.
Having previously provided a “spotlight” on some individual pool game stat sheets we thought it would be appropriate to take one last numerical glance at the impressive Gold Medal performance in Cancun by Coach Sue Phillips squad.
Over five games…
The USA outscored their opponents by an average of 63.8 points per game (92.6 to 28.8)
They controlled the boards by an average of 22 rebounds each time out
Held the turnover edge at 9.4 forcing 26.6 per game while committing an average of just 13.2 themselves
Averaged 18.6 more field goal attempts per game (70.6 to 52.0)
Went to the line 12 more times per outing than their opponents 22.2 to 10.2
On the Defensive End
Over five games held the opposition to just 21.5% shooting from the floor including just 14.1% from three point range
Limited opposing scoring average to 8.8 points per quarter or less over the course of the entire tournament
Averaged 15.6 steals as part of those 26.6 forced turnovers for the opposition
Posted a 5.8 block average in their five games
Team Leaders
Scoring – Asia Durr led the way at 18.4 points per game with three teammates joining her in double figures as well
Rebounds – Despite playing just four of five games, Lauren Cox led the way on the glass at 8.8 per contest
Field Goal Percentage – DeJanae Boykin paced the shooting at 55.9% just ahead of Cox at 55.3 with four others over 50%
Three Point – Katie Lou Samuelson knocked down more than anyone else going 18 for 34 at 53% while Crystal Dangerfield posted the highest return connecting on 7 of 12 for a team high 58.3%
Assists – Asia Durr and Sabrina Ionescu averaged 2 per game each to lead the high scoring USA
Turnovers – Not one player had more than 9 total turnovers combined over the course of the competition
Blocks – Cox, again in just four games, had 14 blocks
Among the Crowd (USA in the events final individual stats)
Scoring – Durr led all competitors with her 18.4 average, Samuelson, Cox and Arike Ogunbowale joined her in the top 10
Rebounding – Cox was second at 8.8 per and Boykin followed in the third spot
Field Goal Percentage – 6 of the top 10 wore stars and stripes with Boykin’s 55.9% leading her teammates in the number two spot
Three Point Percentage – Crystal Dangerfield leads the entire event with her 58%…Samuelson was second, Ogunbowale fourth and Durr fifth
Steals – Durr comes in third with her 3.2 average with Ogunbowale also in the top ten at the number six spot
Blocks – Cox not only led the US but the entire tournament with her 14 total and 3.5 average in four games
