USA Cruise to 131-12 Quarterfinal Victory Over Panama at 2025 FIBA Women’s U16 AmeriCup

Entering the knockout stage after a dominant three-game stretch in Group A earlier this week, the United States once again found little resistance in their matchup with Panama. Starting with a 44-0 scoring run from the opening tip, the Americans controlled the game for all 40 minutes. With the 131-12 final score, the United States broke their record for the highest margin of victory at the event, with their 119-point margin today besting a 111-point win against Dominican Republic in 2009. Ivana Wilson-Manyacka (6'1''-F-2009, college: USA NT U16) continued her strong scoring in the tournament, leading the Americans with 26 points, while Jordyn Haywood (6'1''-F-2010) scored 20 on 4-for-4 shooting from 3-point range. The USA combined for 39 total assists – breaking their previous record of 33 assists vs. Mexico in 2021 – sharing the ball to all scorers to keep the scoring pace high. “The good thing about today is, I heard we broke an assist record,” USA Head Coach Steve Gomez said. “We shared the ball, and we shot the ball really good.” The U.S. started at a blistering pace to their quarterfinal matchup in the first quarter against Panama. With full court pressure the Americans produced 16 steals and got plenty of easy layups in transition as a result, jumping to the aforementioned 44-0 lead. Panama struggled to get set into a half court offense, letting the United States dictate the flow of the game and create a large lead. Wilson Manyacka took control with 15 first-quarter points as the period ended with a score of 48-2. “We find most of our points in transition,” Haywood said. “Playing good defense leads to transition points, so I feel like we really found success in that area.” With a sure lead in hand to start the second quarter, the Americans took off some of their defensive pressure but continued to dominate. They produced six more steals and moved the ball with ease against Panama’s zone defense. This ball movement led to few standout performances, with Wilson Manyacka remaining the only player in double-figures, though all players who entered the game scored by the end of the quarter. Panama scored six more points in the second quarter, but the USA’s consistency pushed their lead by another 22 points, up to a 76-8 halftime score. The Americans continued their dominant defensive play in the third quarter, allowing just four more points for Panama. Haywood hit a 3-pointer to reach double-figures, while Wilson Manyacka scored eight more on two 3-pointers of her own. Tatianna Griffin (5'11''-G-2010) scored eight in the quarter, moving to 14 points on the game, including a 3-point make that pushed the U.S. over 100 points with two minutes left in the quarter. “They play some 2-3 zone, and it's nice to see us shoot the three well,” Gomez said. “Those things give you confidence – just play the game the right way and good things should happen.” Continuing to attack the Panama zone defense, four more United States players reached double-digit scoring in the fourth quarter, while Haywood scored eight more points up to a total of 20. The Americans gave up zero points in the quarter, securing a tie for the least points scored against them in the tournament all-time at 12. The U.S. now move on to the semifinals tomorrow night at 10 p.m. ET to play the winner of Mexico vs. Venezuela.
Courtesy of: usab.com