For the second time in a week, future Duke teammates Azura Stevens and Angela Salvadores met on opposite sides of the floor, on the other side of the world—this time with a trip to the gold medal game on the line.
Once again, the United States came out on top.
Stevens posted 11 points, six rebounds and three blocks as the Americans established a double-digit lead in the second quarter before pulling away late to defeat Salvadores' Spanish squad 80-65 in the semifinals of the FIBA U19 World Championship in Chekhov, Russia. The United States will take on the host nation, Russia, Sunday at 1:15 p.m. for the gold medal.
Salvadores stuffed the stat sheet once again for Spain, continuing to show why she was ranked fifth in the Class of 2015 by ESPN and named the 2014 FIBA Europe Young Women's Player of the Year. The 5-foot-10 floor general finished with 16 points, eight rebounds and six assists, but went just 7-of-23 from the floor. After a rough time handling the ball in the first meeting against the Americans during pool play, Salvadores committed just three turnovers Saturday. But Stevens will still have bragging rights when the duo returns to Durham to begin working out with the rest of Duke head coach Joanne P. McCallie's squad.
In Friday's quarterfinals against Canada, Stevens received a start from South Carolina head coach Dawn Staley, and nearly turned in a double-double with nine points and eight rebounds. The 6-foot-6 forward posted one of the best plus-minuses on the roster at plus-35 as the Americans overpowered the Canadians, 93-45. The United States led 28-5 after the first quarter.
Spain had a much more difficult route into Saturday's semifinal matchup, squeaking past Belgium, 70-66. Salvadores chipped in 21 points, six assists and six steals in the victory. Spain will play for the bronze medal against Australia in the game preceding the gold medal game.
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