Brazil Easily Captures 81-35 Win Over Puerto Rico

Colorado Springs, Colo. - June 23, 2010

Box Score

After limiting Puerto Rico (0-1) to just two points in the first quarter, the 2010 Brazil Women's U18 National Team (1-0) went on to easily record an 81-35 win in its first game of the 2010 FIBA Americas U18 Championship for Women on June 23 at the U.S. Olympic Training Center in Colorado Springs, Colo.

'It was what I expected from the girls tonight, and they did a great job,' said Brazil head coach Luis Claudio Tarallo. 'We will see in the next two preliminary games how they will play. Each game is a different strategy, and tomorrow is a different game against the USA.'

Eleven of 12 players scored for Brazil, which was led by 12 points from Jennifer Sirtoli and 11 points each from Joice Dos Santos and Damiris Amaral, who also collected a game-high 15 rebounds.

Despite its slow start, Puerto Rico never quit fighting and put up 11 points to Brazil's 25 in the second quarter to bring the halftime score to 42-13.

Brazil, however, held Puerto Rico to 11-of-59 shooting from the field (18.6 percent), forced 28 turnovers and out rebounded Puerto Rico 55-35 to douse any hopes of a Puerto Rico comeback. Brazil's lead stretched to 68-27 after three periods and reached its biggest margin of 47 points in the fourth quarter.

Mercedes Colon led Puerto Rico with eight points, Carmen Torres added seven points and Tayra Melendez collected seven rebounds.

Brazil next plays the USA (0-0) at 5:45 p.m. (MDT) on June 24, preceded by Puerto Rico against Argentina (0-0) at 3:30 p.m.