By R.L. Bynum
For the second consecutive summer visit to Mexico, UNC freshman point guard Lanie Grant is returning home with gold.
Grant started in all seven games as the No. 1-ranked USA finished the FIBA U17 Women’s World Cup 7–0 by rolling to an 84–64 victory over No. 2 Canada in Leon, Mexico, late Sunday night for the Americans’ third consecutive gold medal in the event.
Last summer, Grant helped the USA win gold at the FIBA Women’s U16 Championship in Yucatan, Mexico.
It was quite an eventful trip for Grant, who reclassified after earning Gatorade Virginia Player of the Year honors after her junior season at James River High School in Midlothian, Va. The five-star recruit finished the final course needed to earn her high school diploma last Monday and was treated to an impromptu graduation ceremony by her teammates last week.
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The Americans won by an average margin of 48 points and moved to 50–1 all-time in the event after giving Canada its first loss in the tournament.
Canada trailed 59–51 entering the fourth quarter but was held scoreless for five minutes after that and scored only 13 points in the final quarter.
Jerzy Robinson led the Americans with 25 points and seven rebounds, with McKenna Woliczko adding 19 points and nine rebounds.
After scoring in double figures in three of the USA’s first four games, Grant scored had a tough shooting night and scored in single digits for the third consecutive game with a tournament-low six points, playing a tournament-low 10 minutes, 50 seconds.
No. 1 USA 84, No. 2 Canada 64
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
Projected roster if all players with eligibility other than Elina Aarnisalo, Lanie Grant,, Taliyah Henderson and Liza Ashtakhova and Liza Ashtakhova return, with years listed for next season (UNC is one below the 15-player limit)
| Year | No./ Stars | Players | Pos. | Height | |
| Freshman | 5 star | Kate Harpring | PG | 5–10 | |
| Freshman | 52/4 star | Noelle Bofia | F | 6–4 | |
| Sophomore | 3 | Gabby White — W | G | 5–10 | |
| Sophomore | 7 | Nyla Brooks | W | 6–1 | |
| Sophomore | 26 | Taissa Queiroz | G | 6–1 | |
| Junior | 34 | Blanca Thomas | C | 6–5 | |
| Junior | 1 | Jordan Zubich | G | 5–11 | |
| RS junior | 21 | Ciera Toomey | F | 6–4 | |
| RS junior | 4 | Laila Hull | W | 6–1 | |
| Senior | Sophie Burrows — X | G | 6–2 | ||
| Senior | 11 | Achol Akot — Y | F | 6–1 | |
| Senior | 10 | Reniya Kelly | G | 5–7 | |
| Senior | 15 | Sydney Barker | G | 5–6 | |
| Graduate | 13 | Chloe Clardy — Z | G | 5–9 |
WW — Virginia transfer; — Virginia transfer; X — Syracuse transfer; Y — Oklahoma State transfer; X — Stanford transfer
Entered transfer portal
| Player | Class next season | Pos. | Hgt | Next school |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Elina Aarnisalo | Junior | G | 5–10 | UCLA |
| Lanie Grant | Junior | G | 5–9 | TCU |
| Taliyah Henderson | Sophomore | W | 6–1 | |
| Liza Astakhova | Sophomore | G | 6–2 |
Photo courtesy of FIBA
