Angel Reese's defense leads USA vs Italy FIBA World Cup winners, losers
The USA got all it could handle from Italy in group play on Sunday at the FIBA Women's World Cup, escaping with a win. Here are the winners and loses.
In a closely contested FIBA World Cup match, the USA women's basketball team defeated Italy 55-52 in a game that saw Team USA hold the smallest margin of victory since 1979. The Americans, who have won four consecutive World Cup titles, struggled to score, shooting just 29% from the field. Despite their shooting woes, USA coach Kara Lawson praised her team's resilience, stating that "the teams that can persevere through that and have a resilient mindset are the ones that are able to win."
Angel Reese's defensive prowess was a key factor in the win, with Reese recording two blocks, a steal, three rebounds, and ten points. Italy's defense was strong as well, holding Team USA to a tournament-worst 28.6% shooting from the field. Team USA will face Slovakia in the next round.
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