TORONTO, Canada – When two of your stars (Breanna Stewart and Moriah Jefferson) are missing shots, throwing the ball away and you still win, its ugly basketball. The USA needed another second half, last second effort to knock off another Americas opponent Cuba 65-64 to advance to the Pan Am Game gold medal game Monday night at the RYA Athletic Center.
USA’s game started with two turnovers and two missed shots to put Cuba up 4-0 to start the game. Tea defense and some blocked shots kept it from being 10-0 until Jefferson his a running flip layup to get the USA on the board, 5-2. Just like the Puerto Rico game, it dragged out until the USA took a 18-17 lead after the first quarter. Cuba’s quick defense and ability to play strong on the USA’s inside players helped them take a 32-22 lead and 37-26 halftime lead. You know it’s ugly when Breanna Stewart gets her first points on a jumper (1-3) with 2:33 (26-37) in the second quarter. Shatori Walker (Maryland) and Jefferson were the leading scores with eight points each. Cuba outrebounds the USA 21-17, forced 14 turnovers and kept the USA posts off the offensive board to prevent second change shots and put backs. It was also the first game where the USA trailed at halftime (by 11).
Cuba jumped on more USA misses to open a quick 40-26 lead which the USA spent the rest of the quarter working to cut. Stewart made a quick steal and layup for a three point play to get the 37-46 4:25 left in third. More defense got the USA to 41-46 on Walker’s full court layup at 2:35.
USA wing Shatori Walker discusses her role in filling in for injured Tiffany Mitchell and her critical play in the first half against Cuba.
The tempo picked up forcing Cuba to catch up as Linnae Harper’s (Kentucky) shot tied the game at 46 with 0:38 left. The fourth was a series of lead changes as Cuba’s (5) guard Ineidis Casanova (15 points), (9) Yamara Amargo (14 points) and (12) center Cleina Noblet (15 points, 10 rebounds) Harper again hit a big shot, a three with 2:53 left to get a 61-57 lead. Noblet’s two free throws gave Cuba a 61-62 lead with 1:10 but Alaina Coates (South Carolina) putback off a Harper miss gave the USA another lead 63-62. Cuba’s Casanova forced a Jefferson turnover at ¾ court for a Cuban 64-63 lead with 0:13 but Harper drew two fouls, hitting both for the game winner 65-64 at 0:07. A last second shot was interrupted by a Harper steal to seal the victory. It was the second game in a row that Cuba took the opposition (last night Canada) to the final seconds of play.
USA guard Linnae Harper talks about stepping to the foul line with the game-winning shots against Cuba in the final seconds in her hands.
Harper who only played six-plus minutes in a hard fought Puerto Rico game was the USA’s game leading scorer with 16 points (10 in the second half) on 24:24 of play. Shatori Walker contributed 15 points (8 in first half) while Coates dominated inside with 15 rebounds and 10 points. Jefferson added 12 points (8 in first half) while playing the entire 40 minutes. Stewart was the other double-figure scorer with 10 points.
The USA will now play host Canada which easily and surpringly beat Brazil 91-63 to adavce to the other ppsition in the PanAm gold medal game tomorrow at 9 p.m.. The Canadians made quick work on Brazil in the opening stanza jumping out to a 22-9 first quater lead. This game was over except for the score after this point. Wth the USA sporting NCAA college-level athletes, Canada will have two starters Kia Nurse (UConn, 9 points, 8 assists) and Nirah Fields (UCLA, 15 points) to face their fellow college competition and teammates.
In an unusual schedule twist, the two semi-final games were played today with Venezuela taking the PaAm 7th place game over the Dominican Republic 72-56 when they opened up a short lead in the third quarter. The other placement game for 5th in the late game between Cuba and Argentina.
In 2011 at the last Pan American Games the USA team went 2-2 and did not win a medal. Puerto Rico, Mexico and Brazil were the medal winners.
The Game’s Final Minutes
USA guard Linnae Harper draws foul shots on drive with :07 left in semifinal game with Cuba.
USA guard Linnae Harper hits the two winning foul shots with :07 left against Cuba to give the USA the lead.
USA guard Linnae Harper steals Cuba’s last second shot attempt to seal the USA win.
