Rice, Jones Lead U.S. to FIBA U18 Women’s Americas Championship

Incoming UCLA freshmen Kiki Rice and Londynn Jones led the USA Basketball U18 National Team to the tournament victory at the 2022 FIBA U18 Women's Americas Championship. Rice scored 18 points, and Jones recorded 15 with five rebounds in the 82-77 win over Canada in Sunday's championship game.

Rice was selected the tournament MVP and named to the All-Star 5 after ranking second in the tournament in scoring (14.3) , second in efficiency (16.8), first in assists (24), and third in field goal percentage (.492). Jones finished just behind Rice in assists with 23, and she tied for the team lead with 12 steals while scoring 7.2 points per game. Rice and Jones started in all six wins for the U.S.

The U.S. went 3-0 in group play, outscoring their opponents, 280-98. In game one against Colombia, Rice scored 16 points and added six rebounds, seven assists and four steals, while Jones recorded seven points, six assists and four rebounds in the 81-29 win. The U.S. dominated game two, beating Puerto Rico 93-38, with Rice contributing six points and Jones three, along with five assists. Rice totaled 10 points, and Jones scored eight as the U.S. hit the century mark in the final game of group play, a 106-31 win over El Salvador.

In the knock-out rounds, the U.S. took care of Mexico in the quarterfinals, 77-41. Rice scored 14 points and nabbed six rebounds. Jones grabbed five rebounds and added three assists. Both Bruins scored in double-figures in the 84-40 semifinal win over Brazil, as Rice led all players with 22 points, and Jones contributed 10 points, five rebounds and five assists.

The gold medal for the U.S. is their 11th all-time at the FIBA U18 Americas.