201cm center Dubravka Dacic had two baskets and a block in the last minute and former WNBA LA Sparks forward Laura Macchi made two free-throws with 26 seconds to go as Italy edged Taiwan 75-71 Thursday to clinch the Jones Cup crown on the second-to-last day of the five-team tournament.
Taiwan failed to accomplish its three-peat quest and will meet Korea tomorrow in the last game. Italy will face Japan.
Macchi scored on a fastbreak layup after a steal to help Italy break a 67-67 tie with 2:30 to go. Dacic powered inside to scored two baskets and blocked Chiang Feng-chun's shot underneath in the next two minutes. Tsai Pei-chen made two baseline jumpers during the same span, with the second one coming at 14.6 seconds remaining when the score was 73-71.
After another missed shot, Taiwan was forced to foul on Macchi, who made the ensuing free-throws and secured the victory.
Macchi scored a game-high 30 points for Italy, which was a perfect 12-for-12 at the charity line. Raffaella Masciadri, the other Italian forward with WNBA experience, and Dacic each chipped in 12 points. Simona Ballardini scored 6 points.
Liu Chun-yi led Taiwan with 21 points. Chiang Feng-chun had 13 points and Wen Chi had 12. Center Tsai Pei-chen had 10.
Australia U-18 NT 80-59 Korea WKBL All-Star 2nd Team
AUS - Abby Bishop 27p+14rb+4a, Elyse Penaluna 14p+6rb, Marianna Tolo 11p+5rb
KOR - Han Chae-jin 16p, Kim Youn-joo 11p, Kim Soo-yeon 10p+14rb
Japan 79-42 New Zealand
JAP - Ryoko Utsumi 20p, Yuka Watanabe 15p, Emi Isoyama 10p
NZ - Jessica McCormack 11p+9rb
Standings:
Italy 4-0
Taiwan 3-1
Japan 3-1
Australia 1-3
New Zealand 1-3
Korea 0-4