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BRATISLAVA (FIBA U19 World Championship for Women) - The United States advanced to the semi-finals of the FIBA U19 World Championship for Women after beating the Czech Republic 85-66 in their quarter-final on Friday.

Jantel Lavender was the star for the so-far undefeated Americans bagging 25 points and nine rebounds as her team came from behind to win.

The first quarter was a tight affair with neither side able establish a substantial lead over the other, but a five-point Czech surge in the final two minutes gave them a 23-21 lead at the buzzer.

That would, however, prove to be the last time the Europeans held the upper hand as the Americans came out and dominated the second session.

They flew out of blocks, outscoring the Czechs 17-4 in the first five minutes and - despite a fightback led by Romana Hejdova - had a five-point cushion at the halfway point.

The Europeans reduced that gap to two with an early third-quarter three-pointer but the Americans then scored 10 unanswered points and ended up finishing the period with a 64-53
advantage.

The final session saw a familiar story as the Americans once again dominated, taking it 21-13, to ease their way to a date with either Spain or Australia on Saturday.

Matt Hardisty
FIBA