The D’Tigress went right at the U.S. and built a 17-9 lead after one quarter. After almost every basket, Nigeria’s coach Otis Hughley — who grew up in New York — was pumping his fist and cheering his team on.
On the other end, the U.S. couldn’t buy a point. The Americans missed 14 of their 16 shots in the opening period and had eight turnovers while looking completely out of sync. It was the lowest scoring quarter of the tournament for the U.S.
But as the game progressed, the Nigerians fainted while the Americans gained more intensity. In the end, however, it was the reigning champions who triumphed.
