Bucaramanga, Colombia – South Carolina Freshman Leads U.S. to FIBA U18 AmeriCup Gold
South Carolina incoming freshman Joyce Edwards led the U.S. in the 2024 FIBA U18 Women’s AmeriCup, which wrapped up tonight with an 80-69 win over Canada in the final game in Bucaramanga, Colombia. The Americans steamrolled through the tournament’s six games with Edwards’ 14.2 points per game leading the U.S. and ranking fourth in the tournament, earning her Tournament MVP honors.
Gold Medal Game Victory
In the gold medal game, the U.S. jumped out to a nine-point lead after the opening quarter. After seeing Canada win the second period to pull within six at halftime, the Americans resumed control in the third and fourth quarters to cruise to victory. Edwards finished the night with 16 points on 6-of-11 shooting and posted her second double-double of the tournament with a team-high 13 rebounds to go along with five steals in 37 minutes of action.
Outstanding Performance
Overall in the tournament, Edwards shook off a slow start in the opening game to post a 16-point, 10-rebound double-double against Puerto Rico in the second game of group play. She scored 14 or more points in the remaining five outings while playing 19.5 minutes per game. In the quarterfinals against Dominican Republic, her 14 points came on sterling 7-of-10 shooting, and she hit 54.5% (36-66) from the field over the six games. Her 7.2 rebounds per game were second on the team.
International Success
It marks Edwards’ second international gold medal after she earned a spot on the All-Star Five while helping the U.S. to gold at the 2023 U19 World Cup. The USA women own 12 of 14 U18 gold medals and 11 consecutive titles dating back to 2000. The U.S. has qualified for the 2025 FIBA U19 Women’s World Cup.
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