LIMA, Peru – Michaela Onyenwere and the USA Pan American Women's Basketball Team finished the preliminary round of the Pan American Games 3-0, snatching wins over Argentina, U.S. Virgin Islands and Colombia.
In the three games of the preliminary round, Onyenwere averaged 12.7 points and 9.0 rebounds on 47.1 percent shooting. USA shot a combined 46 percent and outscored its opponents by an average of 22.7 points.
USA secured the No. 1 seed out of Group B and will take on the No. 2 seed from Group A in the semifinals on Friday at 7 p.m. PT. The other semifinal game will feature Colombia against Group A's No. 1 seed at 4 p.m. (all games are available on ESPN3)
The bronze (4 p.m.) and gold medal games (7 p.m.) will be played on Saturday.
USA 70, Argentina 62
Box Score / Photo Gallery
USA opened the preliminary round with a come-from-behind 70-62 triumph over Argentina on Aug. 6. Onyenwere collected a game-high 12 rebounds to go along with nine points, as USA overcame a 12-point deficit to earn the 'W.'
With four minutes and change left in the third frame, USA trailed by eight points. However, behind the play of Onyenwere and Texas A&M's Kennedy Carter, USA capped the period with a 14-2 run to take a 51-47 advantage entering the fourth quarter.
USA led by as many as 11 and held Argentina to 33.8 percent shooting. Carter finished with a team-high 14 points, while Tyasha Harris added 13 points.
USA 103, U.S. Virgin Islands 55
Box Score / Photo Gallery
In game two, USA dished out 26 assists and broke out to a 17-4 lead thanks to an 11-0 run and never looked back.
Onyenwere mustered her most efficient effort of the Pan Am Games thus far, scoring 16 points in 17 minutes of play on 7-for-9 shooting to go along with six boards.
A total of six players scored in double figures, led by Taylor Mikesell's 16 points. USA entered the locker room with a 55-21 halftime lead, and its bench ultimately outscored U.S. Virgin Islands by 50 (53-3).
USA 75, Colombia 63
Box Score / Photo Gallery
In a matchup of the last two unbeaten teams in Group B, it was USA who came out on fire, outscoring Colombia 24-13 in the first quarter, seven of which came from Onyenwere.
Onyenwere ultimately finished with 14 points and nine boards. She shot 6-for-12 from the field, nailing two 3-pointers as well.
Colombia hit a pair of free throws to make the score 26-15 with 9:14 to play in the second quarter. USA strung together 13 unanswered points and, with 5:50 on the clock, held a commanding 39-15 lead from which Colombia never recovered. In all, USA held Colombia to just two field goals in the second quarter and outscored the South Americans 23-8 to extend its lead to 47-21 at halftime.
In the three games of the preliminary round, Onyenwere averaged 12.7 points and 9.0 rebounds on 47.1 percent shooting. USA shot a combined 46 percent and outscored its opponents by an average of 22.7 points.
USA secured the No. 1 seed out of Group B and will take on the No. 2 seed from Group A in the semifinals on Friday at 7 p.m. PT. The other semifinal game will feature Colombia against Group A's No. 1 seed at 4 p.m. (all games are available on ESPN3)
The bronze (4 p.m.) and gold medal games (7 p.m.) will be played on Saturday.
USA 70, Argentina 62
Box Score / Photo Gallery
USA opened the preliminary round with a come-from-behind 70-62 triumph over Argentina on Aug. 6. Onyenwere collected a game-high 12 rebounds to go along with nine points, as USA overcame a 12-point deficit to earn the 'W.'
With four minutes and change left in the third frame, USA trailed by eight points. However, behind the play of Onyenwere and Texas A&M's Kennedy Carter, USA capped the period with a 14-2 run to take a 51-47 advantage entering the fourth quarter.
USA led by as many as 11 and held Argentina to 33.8 percent shooting. Carter finished with a team-high 14 points, while Tyasha Harris added 13 points.
USA 103, U.S. Virgin Islands 55
Box Score / Photo Gallery
In game two, USA dished out 26 assists and broke out to a 17-4 lead thanks to an 11-0 run and never looked back.
Onyenwere mustered her most efficient effort of the Pan Am Games thus far, scoring 16 points in 17 minutes of play on 7-for-9 shooting to go along with six boards.
A total of six players scored in double figures, led by Taylor Mikesell's 16 points. USA entered the locker room with a 55-21 halftime lead, and its bench ultimately outscored U.S. Virgin Islands by 50 (53-3).
USA 75, Colombia 63
Box Score / Photo Gallery
In a matchup of the last two unbeaten teams in Group B, it was USA who came out on fire, outscoring Colombia 24-13 in the first quarter, seven of which came from Onyenwere.
Onyenwere ultimately finished with 14 points and nine boards. She shot 6-for-12 from the field, nailing two 3-pointers as well.
Colombia hit a pair of free throws to make the score 26-15 with 9:14 to play in the second quarter. USA strung together 13 unanswered points and, with 5:50 on the clock, held a commanding 39-15 lead from which Colombia never recovered. In all, USA held Colombia to just two field goals in the second quarter and outscored the South Americans 23-8 to extend its lead to 47-21 at halftime.