NewzBERLIN (AP) — Italy gave the United States a huge scare in the women’s FIBA World Cup on Sunday, while China needed overtime to edge the Czech Republic 74-70 in another thriller.The U.S. survived its toughest test at the tournament in two decades with a 55-52 win over Italy, with Jackie Young scoring 10 points.It stretched the Americans’ winning run at the World Cup to 32 games, but none of them have been closer.Italy trailed by 15 points early in the second quarter, but fought back through Olbis Andre and Cecilia Zandalasini as they cut the gap to six points before the break.Andre’s block on Caitlin Clarke before halftime brought a roar from the fans who increasingly got behind Italy, and Andre gave the Italians a three-point lead in the third quarter.The U.S. trailed 50-48 with 4:29 left before going on a 7-0 run.
Italy (1-1) had one last chance to tie it, but Zandalasini’s 3-pointer was off at the buzzer.“We are a team that after 32 years came to the World Cup and almost beat USA so what can I say? I’m really proud of my team,” point guard Mariella Santucci told The Associated Press. “I think this can really tell us how we can compete at the highest level against the best team in the world.
So, we’re going to take everything, the good, the bad, the physical, everything that is, and we’re gonna take it forward.”Italy next faces China (1-1) on Monday in Group D. (2-0) tops the group and has already advanced to the quarterfinals ahead of its final game against the Czech Republic, which is eliminated after two losses.China's comebackChina needed overtime to beat the Czech Republic.Han Xu scored 22 points and drew China level at 53-53 in the final quarter after her team had trailed for most of the game.Eliška Joklová put the Czechs 64-59 up with 27 seconds left only for Luo Xinyu to respond with a 3-pointer and Yang Shuyu to level at 64-64 with 3 seconds to go – after Joklová missed two free throws. There was still time for Joklová to miss another chance to clinch the win.Yang also completed the scoring in overtime for China, which failed to get the most from 7-foot-3 Zhang Ziyu.
The 19-year-old sensation could only score three points in her second game after 13 on her World Cup debut against the United States on Friday.“She has very great talent and we need to fix how we play together," Yang said of the teenager's performance. BERLIN (AP) — The United States faced its stiffest challenge in nearly two decades in the women's FIBA World Cup and escaped with a win over Italy thanks to a few timely baskets late and a key defensive play by Chelsea Gray.Jackie Young scored 10 points to lead the struggling offense in the 55-52 win on Sunday. It was the fewest points the Americans had scored in a World Cup win since they beat Australia 42-38 in 1967.“You have to be able to win different ways in this tournament because every team stylistically plays a little bit different,” U.S.
“You do have to be able to win when you don’t have your fastball. We didn’t have a fastball tonight, but we figured it out late and we’ll grow from it.”The U.S. (2-0) has won 32 straight World Cup games dating to a loss to Russia in the 2006 semifinals.
Only one team had come within single digits of the Americans during this run before Sunday, when Australia lost by eight points in 2010.“Obviously, Italy really kind of mucked up the game for us a little bit,” Breanna Stewart said. “It made it difficult for us to score. Tons of respect to what they’ve done.
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