Photo by Garrett Ellwood/NBAE via Getty Images
In the 3×3 Olympic basketball semifinals, Spain defeated the U.S. in overtime behind 9 points — and the game-winning free throws — from Sandra Ygueravide. In turn, the U.S. women will compete for the bronze medal at 3pm ET.
The USA women’s 3×3 basketball team fell to Spain, 18-16 in overtime, and subsequently lost their chance at a gold or silver Olympic medal. That’s despite a monster game from Hailey Van Lith, who scored 8 points and grabbed 5 rebounds to help give the U.S. a chance at advancing to the Gold Medal Game.
Van Lith, a rising senior at TCU who was on the World Cup team that won gold last season, has been the team’s leading scorer throughout the Olympics. She helped give the U.S. an early lead, and teammate Rhyne Howard hit a go-ahead shot to give the U.S. a one-point lead with 13 seconds to play.
But, as well as Team USA played, Spain — led by Sandra Ygueravide — never quit. Ygueravide hit a game-tying layup to send the game to overtime, and in overtime, hit a pair of game-winning free throws that solidified the win for Spain. She scored a game-high 9 points, including Spain’s final four points.
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Free throws became the name of the game
For the first five minutes, it was a back-and-forth affair. Dearica Hamby scored three of the U.S.’s first four points — a put-back and two layups, while a Van Lith and-one drive gave the USA an early 6-4 lead.
But, the complexion of the game drastically changed once U.S. players collectively fouled the Spanish players 7 times, which put Spain in the bonus for the final five minutes of the game. Spain scored 6 points from the free throw line, missing just a single attempt. Meanwhile, Team USA shot just 1-3 from the line. That ended up being the difference, as Spain got to the line several times in the closing minutes on non-shooting fouls, much to the frustration of the American players.
The game was tied at 14 a piece with just over a minute to play when Van Lith hit a driving shot to give the U.S. a one-point advantage. Ygueravide scored in response to tie it up at 15, and though Howard hit a go-ahead shot with 13 seconds to go, Ygueravide responded yet again with a basket of her own.
In overtime, Ygueravide got Germany on the board first. Howard missed a two-pointer that would’ve won the game, and Ygueravide drew two free throws that ultimately sealed the win, as the first team to two points in overtime wins the game.
USA will play for the bronze medal at 3pm
Next up, the U.S. women’s 3×3 team will compete the Bronze Medal Game at 3pm ET, against the loser of Germany/Canada.
