Breanna Stewart sparks US to 105-64 rout of Czech Republic after a scare vs Italy

Breanna Stewart led the United States to a dominant 105-64 victory over the Czech Republic at the Women's Basketball World Cup in Berlin on Monday. The American star contributed 19 points, seven rebounds, and six assists in the win. This performance came after a tough preliminary-round game against Italy, where the U.S. lost 55-52 in their worst showing in 50 years.

Stewart's early performance, with 11 points in the first ten minutes, helped the U.S. jump ahead 29-15. The team maintained momentum in the second quarter, with Napheesa Collier contributing seven of her 12 points. By halftime, the U.S. led 57-33. The Czech Republic, competing in their first World Cup since 2014, finished with a winless pool play record.

Stewart, while short of her career-high 23 points set against China in 2018, played just over 16 minutes against the Czechs. She did not achieve a triple-double, as she was substituted in the fourth quarter. Other matches on Monday included China defeating Italy, Germany topping Mali, Belgium beating Australia, Puerto Rico edging Turkey, France routing Nigeria, Spain beating Japan, and Hungary narrowly defeating Korea. The U.S. will face the winner of the Hungary vs. Japan game on Thursday in the quarterfinals.