Jason Walker, UP Sports Information Director
Merida, Mexico – The University of Providence, representing Team USA outscored Argentina 33-17 in the second half to get a 50-41 win in the FISU Americas Games Friday in Mexico. The Argos found themselves down 24-17 at the half, as both teams struggled with making shots. Providence went 5-29 from the field in the first half, before making 11 of 26 attempts in the final 20 minutes, including a 3-7 effort from three-point range in the final quarter. Those three makes all came on consecutive possessions for the Argos pushing the lead from seven to 11. Senior Brooklyn Harn connected on back-to-back threes, followed by a triple from McKenna Reggear. Harn finished with 14 points and eight rebounds. Maddy Dixon chipped in with eight points and a team high 13 boards.
Head Coach Bill Himmelberg says the physicality from Argentina played a factor in the game, "Proud of the kids. You know the biggest thing was the amount of physical play was unlike anything we have seen so we had to match the physicality in the first half, and it was not good. I thought we really responded well in the 3rd quarter and did a good job of making sure that we controlled the ball and tempo in the second half." Neither team shot well overall and Himmelberg says it had nothing to do with anything but the physical play, "It literally was a rugby match. There was two-hand checking going on everywhere and you just cannot simulate that in practice. Even when we were in Europe it was not this physical."
Reggear finished with nine points adding 10 rebounds in her Argo debut. Reed Hazard chipped in with 7 points while Kenedy Cartwright and Alicia Oatis each pulled down six rebounds. Providence next will face off against Team Brazil Saturday and Himmelberg expects more physical action, "More of the same. According to Argentina, they (Brazil) are going to be really physical and get up in us too. We will be a little more prepared so hopefully, we can come out right away and move the ball better and not turn it over as much."
Fans can livestream the game beginning at 10:30 AM MDT at www.upargos.com. There is also a watch party at the Halftime Sports Bar, Restaurant and Casino.
