Incoming UCLA forward Sienna Betts scored 21 points and pulled down 10 rebounds, both game highs, as the United States routed China, 122-57, in a FIBA U19 Women’s World Cup round of 16 game Wednesday in Brno, Czechia.
The 6-foot-4-inch Betts made 10 of 17 shots in 21:22 of play. This was the third time in the Americans’ four games in tournament Betts had a double-double and second time she topped 20 points. She scored a game-high 25 points in Saturday’s 134-53 victory over South Korea in the U.S.’ tournament opener in group play.
Betts is the younger sister of Bruins’ All-America center Lauren Betts.
The Americans (4-0) had five other players finish in double figures, including USC commit Jazzy Davidson, who scored 18 in 15:58, and Sierra Canyon School guard Jerzy Robinson, who scored 13 in 13:41 off the bench.
The victory was the 25th straight for the U.S. in the biennial tournament, tying the record set by the Americans from 2011-17. The current U.S. streak began in the opener of the 2019 tournament.
The Americans trailed once, 2-0, when center Ziqi Xu made two free throws 15 seconds into the game. The U.S. led 28-18 at the end of the first quarter, 68-37 at halftime and 94-48 after three quarters en route to improving its record against China in the FIBA U19 Women’s World Cup to 9-0.
Guard Kejia Ran scored 13 to lead China (0-4), while forward Peilin Xu added 12 in front of a crowd at Arena Vodova announced at 102.
The U.S. is first in the girls’ rankings compiled by FIBA, basketball’s international governing body. China is ranked 18th. The rankings are based on games played by women’s U16 through U19 national teams in the most recent two occurrences of various international tournaments.
The Americans are 104-13 in the tournament first played in 1985. It was held every four years until 2005, when it was switched to being held every two years.
The U.S. will play France in a quarterfinal Friday at 11:15 a.m. Pacific Daylight Time. France defeated Czechia, 65-31, in a round of 16 game later Wednesday. The game will be streamed at www.youtube.com/fiba.