The Middletown Press (Middletown, CT)
Walker helps US reach U19 title game
UConn incoming freshman Megan Walker had 11 points and four rebounds while Crystal Dangerfield finished with three points, two rebounds, two assists and two steals as the six-time defending champion United States squad defeated Japan 73-66 in the FIBA U19 World Cup semifinals.
Walker beat the halftime buzzer with a 3-pointer and also had an offensive rebound and putback with 26 seconds remaining in the first half as the U.S. took a 47-33 lead at halftime. The U.S. built the lead to 22 before holding off a spirited rally from Japan.
University of Oregon star Ruthy Hebard had 18 of her game-high 24 points in the first half. She finished with 14 rebounds. Hebard is the 10th U.S. player to score at least 24 points in a FIBA U19 game and the only ones not to play in the WNBA are current UConn star Napheesa Collier and reigning national player of the year A’ja Wilson. Hebard’s 11 field goals tied the U.S. record.
Texas A&M incoming freshman Chennedy Carter had 19 points and seven rebounds, while South Carolina’s Tyasha Harris had 10 points and six assists.
The U.S. will play Russia in Sunday’s championship game. Russia rolled to a 65-41 win over Canada in the other semifinal behind 22 points and 16 rebounds from captain Raina Musina.
Also, a pair of New Haven Register 2016-17 All-State selections led Puerto Rico to its first win of the tournament.
Former New London High School star India Pagan had 26 points, 15 rebounds, four assists, a steal and two blocked shots, while Capital Prep graduate Angelique Rodriguez had 14 points, six rebounds and four assists in a 77-71 win over Korea. Puerto Rico will play Mali for 13th place. Rodriguez, an incoming freshman at Pittsburgh, is averaging a team-leading 14.5 points per game while connecting on 20 of Puerto Rico’s 42 3-pointers. Pagan, headed to Stony Brook, is averaging 8.7 points and a team-best 6.8 rebounds per game.