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09/06 15:38 CDT Jackie Young leads a gritty US escape in a tight 55-52 women's
World Cup win over Italy
Jackie Young leads a gritty US escape in a tight 55-52 women's World Cup win
over Italy
By DOUG FEINBERG
AP Basketball Writer
BERLIN (AP) --- Jackie Young scored 10 points and the U.S. survived its
toughest test in the women's basketball World Cup in two decades with a 55-52
victory over Italy on Sunday.
The U.S. has won 32 straight World Cup games dating back to a loss to Russia in
the 2006 semifinals. Only one team had come within single digits of the
Americans before Sunday during this run, when Australia lost by eight in 2010.
The Americans (2-0) had to work hard for this victory, putting up the lowest
point total in a preliminary-round game since 1971, when they had 51 against
France.
The U.S. trailed 50-48 with 4:29 left before going on a 7-0 run. Breanna
Stewart, who missed her first eight shots, scored her first basket of the game
to put the Americans up 51-50. Young then hit a layup after the U.S. got an
offensive foul against Italy on its next possession.
The Americans then got another defensive stop and Chelsea Gray hit a jumper to
make it a five-point game.
Matilde Villa scored to get Italy back within three with less than a minute to
go.
The U.S. had a couple of chances to make it a two-possession lead but couldn't
convert.
Italy (1-1) had one last chance to tie it, but Cecilia Zandalasini's 3-pointer
was off at the buzzer.
___
See AP's full WNBA coverage here
