Kazan, Russia – Jordan Hooper scored four points and grabbed a team-high seven rebounds to help the USA Basketball Women’s World University Games Team to a 101-61 win over the Czech Republic Tuesday.
Hooper, a 6-2 senior forward from Alliance, Neb., hit 2-of-5 shots from the field to help the United States improve to 2-0 in Pool B play at the 27th World University Games. Hooper saw 14 minutes of action in the 40-point victory, after scoring eight points, grabbing eight rebounds and blocking two shots in a 120-32 win over Mali in the team’s opener on Monday.
The two-time All-American is averaging 5.5 points and 7.5 rebounds in 15 minutes of action through two games in her first international appearances with the United States.
Hooper scored her first basket of the game off an assist from Ariel Massengale (Tennessee) to give the U.S. squad a 21-11 lead with 18 seconds left in the first quarter. The U.S. lead grew to 48-27 at halftime, thanks to eight straight points from Kaleena Mosqueda-Lewis (UConn) in the final 37 seconds of the half.
Mosqueda-Lewis, who scored 10 points in the final 2:21 of the first half, led five U.S. players in double figures with 19 points and six rebounds. Tricia Liston (Duke) added 14 points and six boards, while Odyssey Sims (Baylor) contributed 13 points and a team-high six assists. Aaryn Ellenberg (Oklahoma) pitched in 12 points and six rebounds, and Crystal Bradford (Central Michigan) rounded out the U.S. players in double figures with 11 points and a team-high matching seven boards.
Hooper added her second bucket of the game to open the scoring for the United States in the fourth quarter to put the U.S. team up 80-44 with 9:32 left.
The United States hit 39-of-78 (50 percent) of its shots from the field against the Czech Republic, including 7-of-24 three-pointers (29.2 percent). Team USA also knocked down 16-of-20 three-pointers (80 percent), while producing a 47-32 edge on the glass. The U.S. squad also forced 22 turnovers, while committing just 13 miscues in the game.
The Czech Republic managed to hit 24-of-62 shots from the field (38.7 percent), including just 4-of-17 (23.5 percent), while going 9-of-11 at the free throw line. Klara Pochobradska led the Czech Republic with 17 points, while Alena Hanusova added 12 points.
The USA Basketball Women’s World University Games Team will complete Pool B play on Wednesday when they take on Brazil at 3:30 a.m. (central time). The team will enjoy an off day on Thursday to prepare for Friday’s quarterfinals.