Jackie Young scored 19 points off the bench to lead Team USA to an 87-68 win over Germany in the final game of women’s basketball group play in the Summer Olympics on Sunday in Villeneuve d’Ascq, France.
The Americans, advancing to the quarterfinals of the Olympic tournament after going 3-0 in group play, won their 58th straight game in Olympic competition. Quarterfinals begin Wednesday, but opponents are still being determined.
Young shot 7-of-13 from the floor and also swished five 3-pointers to go with four rebounds, two assists and two steals. A’ja Wilson added 14 points and four steals, Breanna Stewart scored 13 points, and Sabrina Ionescu, Alyssa Thomas and Kelsey Plum each had five assists off the bench.
Germany (2-1) also will advance to the quarterfinals despite its defeat. The Germans were led by 15 points and six rebounds from Dallas Wings forward Satou Sabally, 14 points from Alexis Peterson, and 10 points from Leonie Fiebich.
The Germans jumped out to an early 15-6 lead, powered by Fiebich scoring eight points and dishing out an assist in the opening five minutes of the game.
Trailing by three points entering the second period, the Americans responded on both ends of the floor, holding Sabally and Fiebich scoreless as the U.S. went on a 25-10 run. Three of the Las Vegas Aces players on the team — Wilson, Young and Plum — showed off their chemistry in that period, combining for 11 points and five assists as the U.S. took a 12-point advantage into halftime.
The Americans led by as many as 23 points after Young hit a 3-pointer on an assist from Plum to end the third quarter. The U.S. tallied 25 assists on the day to Germany’s 14, and also outrebounded the Germans 42-32.
