USA and Brazil favourites in the quarter finals of FIBA U-19 World Championship for Women: Part-2
USA vs France
The third quarterfinal will see the three time defending champion USA face off against the European powerhouse France in a battle, which promises to be a thriller. USA won 5 games in the preliminary round, with only one loss at
the hands of their bitter rivals Canada.
They have averaged 78.3 points on average in the tournament and have conceded only 61 points in return. Breanna Stewart is one of the best players on team USA with statistics of 11.8 points and 6.3 rebounds per game. Malina Howard
has been the sharpshooter of the team with a 70% strike rate on her field goals.
The French have also managed 5 wins in the preparation for the quarters, with just 1 defeat coming at the hands of Australia. They have scored 60.4 points per game and let in 54 in return. They will be looking up to their two main
stars, Valeriane Ayayi and Clarince Djaldi-Tabdi.
Ayayi has racked up 12 points per game in the preliminary rounds while shooting 50% from the three point barrier. Djaldi-Tabdi, on the other hand, has netted field goals at 64.3 % and has grabbed 7.4 rebounds per game. Both these
will be key players against the tournament favourites.
Russia vs Brazil
The Russians has a rather inconsistent run in the preliminary round and managed 3wins and 3 losses. They have only scored 60.7 points per game against the 65.2 points per game, they have let in. They are the only team in the quarters
with a negative PFA (Points For/Against) spread.
Ksenia Tikhonenko has been the shining star for Russia in this tournament. She has dominated on both fronts and has tallied an average of 11.8 points and 9.5 rebounds per game. It was her stunning defensive display against the
Italians in Russia’s must-win game, where she scooped 19 defensive rebounds, which ensured her teams’ progress to the quarters.
Also, her teammate and power forward, Yulia Poluyanova, has been extremely accurate with a 64.5 % accuracy to mark her field goals. Kseniya Andreeva can also contribute with a 50% shooting rate from the three point line.
The Brazilians have also been a powerhouse in this tournament, with 5 wins and just 1 loss. They are being ranked as one of the favourites to win the tournament. What Brazil possess, is nothing short of a one woman army. Damiris
Dantas, the Brazilian centre has been in sublime form this tournament, be it offensively or defensively.
She is the tournament leader in terms of both points and rebounds, as she averages a mesmerizing 21 points and 12.5 rebounds per game. The Russians are expected to have a tough time against this unstoppable machine. Brazilian
Thamara Silva can also pose a threat with her three point arm, as she has averaged just over 50% from beyond the arc.
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