Tiffany Hayes scored 11 points, including the go-ahead basket late, to lead Azerbaijan to a 20-17 win over the US in women’s 3×3 basketball pool play at the Paris Olympics on Wednesday, dropping the defending champions to 0-2.
The game was tied when Hayes, who plays for the WNBA’s Las Vegas Aces, drove into the lane and finished with a layup to put Azerbaijan on top 18-17 with six seconds to go.
The US had a chance to regain the lead, but Hailey Van Lith’s two-pointer was off. A desperation foul by the US led to two free throws by Alexandra Mollenhauer to secure the victory.
The US were among the favorites to win again in these games. But so far the team has struggled and lost to Germany in the opener.
The lack of chemistry that cost the US in the opener, on both sides of the ball, was on full display again on Wednesday.
“We’re the most inexperienced team here.” Burdick told USA Today after the loss to Germany. “We got a lot of skill, a lot of talent, but that doesn’t win 3×3 games. That’s a prime time example right there.”
Dearica Hamby had seven points and five rebounds to lead the US She joined the team this summer after Cameron Brink sustained a knee injury. Van Lith added five points.
The US still have an opportunity to pick up a medal. In pool play, all teams play each other once for a total of six games. The squads are then seeded one through six, with the top two receiving byes to the semi-finals. The unseeded teams play in a single-game elimination round before the semi-finals and final.