Stricklen helps U.S. to 2-0 record

Buenos Aries, ARGENTINA — Tennessee incoming freshman Shekinna Stricklen scored a game-high 13 points and pulled down 8 rebounds and made three steals as the United States outscored Canada 24-5 in the second period to pull away for a 72-56 win Thursday in the FIBA Americas U18 Championship for Women.

At 2-0, the U.S. has guaranteed a top-four finish in the tournament and secured a berth into the 2009 FIBA U19 World Championship.

“The coaches really got me pumped up and told me to crash the boards,” said Stricklen, who was 6-of-10 shooting in 27 minutes of playing time as a starter. “I felt good out there, but mostly it was that the team was all together today. Everybody was crashing and talking, and we were focused on defense. That’s how we fought off their run and got the win early in the game. Then we just needed to hold on.”

UT signee Alyssia Brewer made both her free throws for two points and added five rebounds in eight minutes off the bench for the U.S.

In Wednesday’s 112-48 win over Venezuela, Brewer had 12 points on 6-of-8 shooting and nine rebounds in 14 minutes off the bench.

Stricklen had eight points on 3-of-3 shooting and six rebounds in 14 minutes.

The Americans play Puerto Rico today.

“I don’t think we’ll slow down now that we are qualified at all,” said Stricklen. “We want to win all five games, and we will keep the intensity up.”

© 2008, Knoxville News Sentinel Co.
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