Mexico Cruises Past Costa Rica 78-40

Colorado Springs, Colo. - June 24, 2010

Box Score

The Mexico Women's U18 National Team (1-1) opened its second game of the 2010 FIBA Americas U18 Championship for Women with an 8-0 run against Costa Rica (0-2) and never let up, securing early its 78-40 win on June 24 at the U.S Olympic Training Center in Colorado Springs, Colo.

Plagued by 12 turnovers in the first period alone and finishing with 42 turnovers overall, Costa Rica never was able to recover from the 21-9 deficit Mexico had compiled after the first 10 minutes.

'The girls changed their attitude from yesterday,' said Mexico head coach Krassimira Nicova Peteva. 'It was a big change in today's game.'

Eleven of 12 players scored for Mexico, which was led by 21 points and 14 rebounds from Laura Nunez Guzman, 15 points from Ana Lilia Noriega Camacho and 13 points from Andrea Medina Tostado. Additionally, Adriana Navarro Gonzalez dished out 15 assists and collected nine steals.

'Adriana, Laura, Ana and Andrea, they didn't play like they did yesterday, but they played like I have seen them play before,' Peteva continued.

Outscored 22-10 in the second and 25-5 in the third period, Costa Rica rallied for a 16-10 advantage in the fourth quarter that was too little too late.

Tayra Melendez scored 12 points and Valerie Matamoros Solis collected 11 rebounds for Costa Rica, which shot just 15-of-71 from the field (21.1 percent).