BERLIN \u2013 Jackie Young scored 10 points and the U.S. survived its toughest test in the women’s basketball World Cup in two decades with a 55-52 victory over Italy on Sunday.<\/p>\n
The U.S. has won 32 straight World Cup games dating back to a loss to Russia in the 2006 semifinals. Only one team had come within single digits of the Americans during this run, when Australia lost by eight points in 2010.<\/p>\n
The Americans (2-0) had to work hard for the victory, putting up the lowest point total in a preliminary-round game since 1971, when they had 51 against France.<\/p>\n
The U.S. trailed 50-48 with 4:29 left before going on a 7-0 run. Breanna Stewart, who missed her first eight shots, scored her first basket of the game to put the Americans up 51-50. Young then hit a layup after the U.S. got an offensive foul against Italy on its next possession.<\/p>\n
The Americans got another defensive stop and Chelsea Gray hit a jumper to make it a five-point game.<\/p>\n
Matilde Villa scored to get Italy back within three with less than a minute to go.<\/p>\n
The U.S. had a couple of chances to make it a two-possession lead but couldn’t convert.<\/p>\n
Italy (1-1) had one last chance to tie it, but Cecilia Zandalasini’s 3-pointer was off at the buzzer.<\/p>\n
Italy\u2019s 2-3 zone defense cause the U.S. fits on offense. The Americans couldn\u2019t get into any rhythm and shot 29% from the field, including going 1 for 12 from 3-point range.<\/p>\n
The Americans, who led 30-24 at halftime, saw Italy go on a 11-2 run to start the third quarter and trailed 35-32 before finishing the period up 42-39.<\/p>\n
Italy, which lost to the Americans by 34 in a tournament qualifier in March, wouldn\u2019t go away and was up 50-48 in the fourth quarter before the Americans’ final push.<\/p>\n
Zandalasini scored 14 points to lead Italy, which is making its first World Cup appearance since 1994.<\/p>\n
The Italians won their first game, beating the Czech Republic, and had a loud crowd cheering for them against the U.S. Still, there were fans wearing Caitlin Clark Iowa and Fever jerseys, as well as one in Bueckers\u2019 high school jersey.<\/p>\n