Kelly makes big plays down stretch as USA fights off Canada to make gold-medal game

R.L. Bynum,

By R.L. Bynum

Deja Kelly and the United States team fought off a tough Canada squad Saturday night to earn a spot in FIBA Women’s AmeriCup gold-medal game.

Kelly scored eight points and made some big plays down the stretch as the top-ranked Americans held on for a 67–63 victory at Domo de la Feria in León, Mexico, and will face Brazil (6–0) in Sunday’s gold-medal game at 8:30 p.m. ET (streamed here).

The Americans (5–1), who avenged an exhibition loss and handed fifth-ranked Canada its first defeat in five tournament games, will seek their third consecutive AmeriCup gold medal. Brazil advanced with an 85–74 semifinal victory over Puerto Rico.

The U.S. gets another chance at revenge, facing the Brazil team that ended its 19-game AmeriCup win streak with a 67–54 win in group play on the Fourth of July.

“I just think [Canada] pushed us in every way in every limit,” U.S. coach Kamie Ethridge said. “It’s tough that someone has to lose a game like this, but our players were so good and so tough and found ways to win.”

After Shay Colley’s two free throws gave Canada (4–1) a three-point lead, Kelly got fouled on a drive and sank a pair of free throws with five minutes left to trim the lead to one.

After an Angel Reese layup gave the U.S. the lead for good at 64–63 with 2:35 left, Colley fouled out when Kelly drew a charge call with 2:14 remaining. Charisma Osborne put the game away for the Americans on two free throws with 10 seconds left.

“They’re an amazing team,” Reese said of Canada. “They play together. They’ve been together probably a little bit longer than us. … But credit to our team. Everybody came in from the bench. I think [Ethridge] said we had 31 bench points. Being able to come in and everybody played a great role. Everybody did their job, and I think this was just a team win, and I’m just happy for the team.”

Canada has four players with college experience (UConn’s Aaliyah Edwards, Notre Dame’s Cassandra Prosper, Louisville’s Merissah Russell and Gonzaga’s Yvonne Ejim) and another (Michigan’s Syla Swords) who will be a freshman next season.

Kelly made some big plays but continued to struggle with her jumper, going 2 of 10 from the floor and missing her only 3-point attempt. She made all four free-throw attempts while collecting three rebounds and two assists in a tournament-high 23 minutes, 23 seconds.

Lauren Betts led the United States with 12 points, with Rickea Jackson adding 11 points and six rebounds and Reese pitching in 10 points and 13 assists. Janiah Barker contributed nine points, six rebounds and two assists.

Canada led 6–2 lead, but the Americans scored the next 11 points, including Kelly sinking a long two-point jumper and a pair of free throws for a 13–6 lead with 4 minutes, 54 seconds left in the opening quarter.

The USA led 22–17 after one quarter and 28–23 after a Kelly drive with 4:51 left in the first half. The Americans led by as many as 12 points before holding a 39–29 halftime lead.

Canada kept whittling away at the lead, tying it on a drive by 32-year-old Kayla Alexander (who led Canada with 17 points and nine rebounds) with 6:40 remaining and going up by three on Nirra Fields’ 3-pointer with 6:04 left.

DateDay/monthScoreOpponent/event
(current rank)		Record
November
8WednesdayW, 102–49vs. Gardner-Webb1–0
12SundayW, 74–70vs. Davidson2–0
15WednesdayW, 62–32vs. Hampton3–0
18SaturdayW, 68–39vs. Elon4–0
Gulf Coast Showcase
in Estero, Fla.
24FridayW, 54–51Vermont5–0
25SaturdayL, 63–56No. 15 Kansas State5–1
26SundayL, 65–64Florida Gulf Coast 5–2
ACC/SEC
Women’s Challenge
30ThursdayL, 65–58vs. No. 1 South Carolina 5–3
December
6WednesdayW, 81–66vs. UNC Greensboro6–3
Hall of Fame
Women’s Showcase
in Uncasville, Conn.
10SundayL, 76–64No. 10 Connecticut6–4
———————
15FridayW, 96–36vs. Western Carolina7–4
Jumpman Invitational
in Charlotte
19TuesdayW, 61–52No. 18 Oklahoma8–4
ACC season
31SundayW, 82–76vs. Clemson9–4,
1–0 ACC
January
4ThursdayW, 75–51vs. No. 22 Syracuse10–4,
2–0 ACC
7SundayW, 61–57at No. 9 Notre Dame11–4,
3–0 ACC
11ThursdayL, 70–62at Florida State11–5,
3–1 ACC
14SundayW, 81–68vs. Virginia12–5,
4–1 ACC
18ThursdayW, 73–68at Georgia Tech13–5,
5–1 ACC
21SundayW, 79–68vs. No. 23 Louisville14–5,
6–1 ACC
25ThursdayW, 66–61vs. Miami15–5,
7–1 ACC
28SundayL, 81–66at Virginia15–6,
7–2 ACC
February
1ThursdayL, 63–59at No. 11 N.C. State15–7,
7–3 ACC
4SundayL, 70–61, OTvs. No. 13 Virginia Tech15–8,
7–4 ACC
11SundayL, 68–60, OTat Duke15–9,
7–5 ACC
15ThursdayW, 75–62vs. Pittsburgh16–9,
8–5 ACC
18SundayW, 58–50at Wake Forest17–9,
9–5 ACC
22ThursdayW, 80–70vs. No. 11 N.C. State18–9,
10–5 ACC
25SundayL, 74–62at No. 13 Virginia Tech18–10,
10–6 ACC
29ThursdayL, 78–74at Boston College18–11,
10–7 ACC
March
3SundayW, 63–59vs. Duke19–11,
11–7 ACC
ACC tournament
Greensboro Coliseum
7ThursdayL, 60–59Second round:
vs. Miami		19–12
NCAA tournament
Columbia, S.C.
22 Friday W, 59–56First round:
Michigan State		20–12
24SundayL, 88–41Second round:
No. 1 South Carolina 		20–13

Potential UNC 2024–25 roster

YearNo.PlayersPos.Height
Freshman—Lanie Grant (5 star)PG5–10
Freshman—Blanca Thomas (5 star)C6–5
Freshman—Jordan Zubich (4 star)G5–11
RS Freshman21Ciera ToomeyF6–4
RS Freshman4Laila Hull W6–1
Sophomore10Reniya KellyPG5–7
Sophomore15Sydney BarkerPG5–6
RS Junior11Kayla McPhersonPG5–8
Junior24Indya NivarG5–10
Senior5Maria GakdengC6–3
Graduate—Grace TownsendG5–5
Graduate 20Lexi Donarski G6–0
Graduate1Alyssa Ustby F6–1

2023–24 UNC players to enter transfer portal

ClassPlayerDate enteredPos.HgtNext school
JuniorPaulina ParisMarch 26G5–9Arizona
GraduateAli ZelayaApril 1F6–4UNCW
GraduateAnya PooleApril 1F6–2TBA
RS juniorTeonni KeyApril 2F6–4Kentucky
SophomoreRyLee GraysApril 5F6–3TBA
GraduateDeja KellyApril 8G5–8TBA

Photo courtesy of FIBA

Published by R.L. Bynum

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