By R.L. Bynum
Incoming UNC freshman point guard Lanie Grant started and scored all six of her points in a 40-second stretch when the United States took control in the third quarter in an easy 82–55 victory late Saturday night over Australia in the FIBA Women’s World Cup at the Inforum arena in Irapuato, Mexico.
Grant, playing for a USA team for the second consecutive summer after winning a gold medal at the FIBA Women’s U16 Americas Championship in 2023, played 23 minutes, 40 seconds, the second-most on the team, but had a tough shooting night.
The USA plays the second of three Group C games at 7:30 p.m. ET Sunday against Puerto Rico, which lost to Croatia on Saturday 77–65. The game will be streamed here.
During Grant’s third-quarter scoring spree, she scored a driving layup with 5:37 left, got a rebound and scored with 4:59 remaining and got a steal and a bucket two seconds later, pushing the United States’ lead to 62–36.
She missed all four 3-point attempts and was 3 of 11 from the floor, with all three field goals coming around the basket. Grant collected four rebounds and two steals and was +21, the third-highest on the team.
Jerzy Robinson scored a team-leading 14 points, and McKenna Woliczko added 12 points and nine rebounds for the Americans, who led 42–32 before outscoring the Aussies 31–10 in the third quarter to take control of the game.
“I think we just figured out moving the ball, passing and getting stops on defense really was the key to our third-quarter run. Building off of that and keeping positive energy for the next day will be the key,” Robinson said.
The USA outrebounded Australia 68–47, with 29 offensive rebounds creating 25 second-chance points.
USA 82, Australia 55
FIBA Women’s U17 World Cup
United States schedule
In Leon and Irapuato, Mexico
(All times Eastern)
Group C pool play
Saturday: No. 1 USA 82, No. 3 Australia 55 in Irapuato
— Grant: Started; 24 minutes, 6 points, 3–11 FG, 0–4 3PFG, 4 rebounds, 1 turnover, 2 steals, +21
Sunday: No. 1 USA 121, No. 12 Puerto Rico 36 in Irapuato
— Grant: Started; 26 minutes, 18 points, 6–13 FG, 4–8 3PFG, 1 rebound, 4 assists, 1 foul, 3 turnovers, 2 steals, +60 (team-high)
Tuesday: No. 1 USA 123, No. 9 Croatia 42 in Irapuato
— Grant: Started; 22 minutes, 17 points, 7–12 FG, 3–7 3PFG, 4 rebounds, 3 assists, 2 fouls, 1 turnover, 3 steals, +34
Round of 16
Wednesday: No. 1 USA 114, No. 16 Egypt 34
— Grant: Started; 23 minutes, 15 points, 6–9 FG, 3–5 3PFG, 4 rebounds, 3 assists, 2 fouls, 1 turnover, 2 steals, +50 (team-high)
Quarterfinals
Friday: No. 1 USA 95, No. 7 Japan 59
— Grant: Started; 25 minutes, 8 points, 3–8 FG, 0–4 3PFG, 2 rebounds, 2 assists, 1 foul, 2 turnovers, 1 block, +12
Semifinals
Saturday: No. 1 USA 84, No. 4 France 66
— Grant: Started; 14 minutes, 7 points, 3–6 FG, 0–1 3PFG, 1 rebound, 2 turnovers, 1 steal, -2
Championship
Sunday: No. 1 USA 84, No. 2 Canada 64
— Grant: Started; 11 minutes, 6 points, 3–9 FG, 0–5 3PFG, 1 rebound, 1 foul, 1 turnover, +2
— Grant World Cup statistics: 7 games, 20.5 minutes, 11.0 points, 45.6% FG, 28.6 3PFG%, 83.3% FT, 2.4 rebounds, 1.7 assists, 0.7 of a foul, 1.6 turnovers, 0.1 of a block, +25.3
Photos courtesy of FIBA
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