Huskies continue to impress on U-19 team

Wilson, a recruiting target and one of three high school players on 12-member U.S. squad, continues to impress.

UConn rising sophomore forward and U.S. co-captain Morgan Tuck had 18 points, five rebounds, three assists and three steals in a 102-42 win over Netherlands as the U.S. improved to 4- 0 at the FIBA U-19 World Championship for Women.

UConn’s Breanna Stewart, who led the U.S. in scoring in the first three games, finished with 10 points, six rebounds, three assists and two blocked shots while Moriah Jefferson, who missed the previous game with a sprained left wrist, returned and finished with two points, two rebounds and three assists.

“Morgan (Tuck) sets the tone,” U.S. head coach Katie Meier of Miami said. “She sets the tone from the beginning. And Stewie

anna Stewart), I would give Stewie more than two blocks. From what I saw, I thought she got the ball in the air a lot and really changed the game on the defensive end. She played some of her best defense for sure tonight. She can guard every position.

“A’ja (Wilson) gets a couple offensive put-backs and it really gets her going,” Meier said. “She had a couple moves tonight that were so high level and so composed. Her first game here, she had some jitters. Ever since then she’s made some great reads. She would be a starter on anyone else’s team in this tournament.“

Wilson, a Class of 2014 UConn recruiting target and one of three high school players on the 12-member U. S. squad, continues to impress as she had a gamehigh 20 points and added eight rebounds, three steals and two blocked shots.

“I was really just cleaning up everybody’s shots,” Wilson said. “They were great shots they were taking, but they just weren’t falling. I was just rebounding and putting them back up. One of our goals was offensive rebounds, so I really focused on as the ball would go up to go get it and put it back in the basket. So, that’s what I did.”

Two years ago Stewart and Tuck were in the same situation as Wilson as they were talented high school kids playing with some college stars on the U.S. team which won the 2011 world title. Now they are the team co-captains and team leaders.

“Two years ago I was just trying to fit in, trying to find a way to help in any way, trying to do the small things,” Tuck said. “Now, I’ve kind of taken on a leadership role. I’m trying to make sure that everyone is on the same page for the shoot-arounds and the games, trying to be like a mother type with the team and trying to make sure that everyone has everything that they need and that we’re all ready to go.”

Stewart leads the team in scoring, averaging 18.3 points per game to go with 5.3 rebounds, 2 assists, 2.5 steals and 0.5 blocks. Tuck is averaging 15.8 points, 5.5 rebounds, 3.3 assists and 2.3 steals. Wilson is contributing 14 points per game and she leads the team in rebounding (9.3) and blocks (2.0). The only double-digit scorer for the U.S. is Duke rising sophomore Alexis Jones, who is averaging 10.5 points and has a team-high 15 assists.

The U.S. continues play in the second stage of round robin action today with a game against Canada. If the U.S. wins and France beats China then the Wednesday showdown between the U.S. and France will be for the Group F title. With a 4- 0 record, the U.S. is guaranteed to finish in the top four in Group F and has clinched a spot in the quarterfinals.