NINTH WOMEN'S FIBA AMERICAS U18 CHAMPIONSHIP FOR WOMEN -- 2012

Gurabo, Puerto Rico • August 15-19, 2012

Despite starting the tournament with just 10 players and finishing with nine after a knee injury sidelined Jannah Tucker in the second game, the 2012 USA U18 National Team overcame adversity to claim the gold medal with a perfect 5-0 slate at the 2012 FIBA Americas U18 Championship. In claiming the USA’s sixth-straigh gold at the event, the U.S., guided by University of Miami head coach Katie Meier, qualified for the 2013 FIBA U19 World Championship.

2012 USA U18 National Team 2012 USA RESULTS (5-0) USA 99 Dom. Rep. 26 USA 68 Argentina 28 USA 87 Colombia 36 USA 95 Canada 46 USA 71 Brazil 47 2012 COMPETITION FINAL STANDINGS 1. *USA (5-0) 5. Puerto Rico (3-2) 2. *Brazil (4-1) 6. Colombia (2-3) 3. *Argentina (3-2) 7. Mexico (1-4) 4. *Canada (2-3) 8. Dominican Rep. (0-5) * Qualified for the 2013 FIBA U19 World Championship

Opening against Dominican Republic, the USA reeled off the second quarter’s first 31 points and ran away with the 99-26 victory. All 10 players scored no less than five points apiece, including a game-best 23 points from Connecticut freshman-to-be Morgan Tuck, while incoming Notred Dame freshman Michaela Mabrey dished out a USA U18 single-game record 10 assists to go with her nine points and four blocked shots.

Behind game-bests of 17 points and 12 boards from Connecticut-bound Breanna Stewart, the USA downed Argentina 68-28 on Aug. 16. Tuck added 13 points and Mabrey scored 12.

In its final preliminary round contest, Baylor-bound Alexis Prince scored a game-high 19 points to lead the USA past Colombia 87-36 on Aug. 17. In addition to Prince, who shot 8-of-14 from the field, 3-of-6 from 3-point; Tuck shot 7-of-10 from the field and contributed 17 points; while Mabrey tied a U.S. U18 3-point field goal percentage record after netting 83.3 percent (5-6 3pt FGs) of her long-range attempts for 15 points.

Stewart and Tuck combined for 42 points and 11 rebounds to lead the U.S. to a 95-46 victory over Canada in the semifinal game on Aug. 18. Tuck shot 9-of-12 and led the way with 22 points, while Stewart shot 8-of-11 from the floor and and  finished with 20 points and a game-high eight rebounds.

Finding itself in unfamiliar territory, USA never panicked and fought back from a double-digit deficit to claim the 2012 FIBA Americas U18 Championship gold medal with a 71-47 victory over Brazil on Aug. 19. A trio of players posted double-doubles, including tournament MVP Stewart, who had 13 points and 10 boards and was the tournament’s second leading scorer (14.0 ppg.) and third leading rebounder (7.8 rpg). Tuck, who topped the tournament charts and set a new USA U18 record for scoring average (17.8 ppg.) had a team-high 15 points and grabbed 11 rebounds; while Bashaara Graves had 10 points and 11 boards.

After trailing for just 1:44 combined in its first four games, and never by more than three points, the U.S. found itself in the position of having to come from behind by double digits as Brazil held an 18-7 lead 38 seconds into the second quarter. However, the USA turned up its defense, which helped fuel the offense and went ahead by a 29-24 margin at halftime. Upping its lead to 50-31 with the help of a 21-7 third quarter output, the U.S. cruised in for the eventual win and gold.

Argentina edged Canada 53-49 in the bronze medal game.

2012 USA U18 Women's National Team Roster

2012 USA U18 National Team Cumulative Statistics