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ASU Women’s Basketball: Reili Richardson helps USA to a 3-0 start

By Sam Ficarro

LAS VEGAS, NV - MARCH 09: Arizona State Sun Devils mascot Sparky the Sun Devil performs during the team's quarterfinal game of the Pac-12 Basketball Tournament against the Oregon Ducks T-Mobile Arena on March 9, 2017 in Las Vegas, Nevada. Oregon won 80-57. (Photo by Ethan Miller/Getty Images)
LAS VEGAS, NV - MARCH 09: Arizona State Sun Devils mascot Sparky the Sun Devil performs during the team's quarterfinal game of the Pac-12 Basketball Tournament against the Oregon Ducks T-Mobile Arena on March 9, 2017 in Las Vegas, Nevada. Oregon won 80-57. (Photo by Ethan Miller/Getty Images) /
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After a successful freshman season, ASU women’s basketball point guard Reili Richardson is playing with Team USA at the FIBA U-19 World Cup.

ASU women’s basketball will be leaning towards to their backcourt next season after the graduation of their experienced frontcourt and leading the guards will be Reili Richardson.

After setting the school record for assists in a season by a freshman, Richardson was named to Team USA’s squad for the FIBA U-19 Women’s World Cup which is coached by Pitt’s Suzie McConnell-Serio.

The roster is stacked with talent led by Connecticut guards Crystal Dangerfield and Megan Walker, Oregon forward Ruthy Hebard, Texas forward Joyner Holmes and Texas A&M commit Chennedy Carter.

Before the tournament began, the United States played three exhibition games in Italy, the site of the U-19 World Cup.

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In the first game, USA defeated Spain 84-72 in which Richardson played eight minutes scoring three points on 1-for-4 shooting and one rebound.

Richardson got more playing time in the next exhibition game versus the host nation Italy as the Americans ran away with a 62-36 victory.

In 20 minutes played, Richardson tallied five points on 2-for-6 shooting with two rebounds, one assist and one steal.

In USA’s final exhibition game, Richardson recorded two points on1-for-3 shooting and one rebound as the American squeaked out a 64-56 win over Latvia.

After three successful exhibition games, the United State began pool play Saturday with a 95-58 win over Mali as the United States shot 43.4 percent from the field compared to Mali’s 35.4 percent shooting.

Richardson finished with six points on 2-for-3 shooting in 13 minutes played.

The United States faced China Sunday and came out with a 91-51 win as they held the Chinese to just five points in the second quarter to open up a 33-point halftime lead.

Richardson scored seven points on 1-for-2 shooting and 4-for-5 from the free throw line and one rebound in just under 15 minutes played.

After a day off Monday, Team USA finished pool play with their closest game yet with a 66-49 win Tuesday over the host-nation Italy.

The United States had their worst shooting day yet shooting only 35 percent from the field as the U.S. trailed Italy 13-12 after the first quarter.

USA outscored Italy in the final three frames and won the game as Richardson finished with zero points on 0-for-5 shooting, including 0-for-4 from three-point range.

Next: ASU Baseball: Summer update

The USA finished atop Group A and will face play Puerto Rico in the Round of 16 Wednesday at 9 a.m. PST and the game can be streamed on YouTube.