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Team USA 3×3 Basketball Eliminated In France, Sabrina Ionecu Finds Turnovers

By Justin Phillips

TAMPA, FLORIDA - APRIL 05: Sabrina Ionescu #20 of the Oregon Ducks drives to the basket against the Baylor Lady Bears during the first half in the semifinals of the 2019 NCAA Women's Final Four at Amalie Arena on April 05, 2019 in Tampa, Florida. (Photo by Mike Ehrmann/Getty Images)
TAMPA, FLORIDA - APRIL 05: Sabrina Ionescu #20 of the Oregon Ducks drives to the basket against the Baylor Lady Bears during the first half in the semifinals of the 2019 NCAA Women's Final Four at Amalie Arena on April 05, 2019 in Tampa, Florida. (Photo by Mike Ehrmann/Getty Images) /
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After a run that took the Team USA to the gold in the Pan American Games, Sabrina Ionescu had turnovers losing back to back games in a tournament in France.

This time around, Ionescu was also teamed with a fellow player from the state of Oregon, Oregon State Beavers Aleah Goodman. Both combined to score seven points in the loss to France, and the team came up short by a point 17-16 to Italy later in the day in the quarterfinals.

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Ionescu hit her stride last month in the Pan American Games averaging an eye-popping nine points per game. Team USA averaged over 20 for the tournament taking the gold medal. It got to the point where the Spanish announcers were referring to Sabrina by only her first name. Oregon Fans already know what they have in Ionescu and now she has appeal at the international level as well.

With FIBA, Ionescu is in prime contention to be a starter for Team USA at the Olympics next year in Tokyo. FIBA awards points for playing in their respective events rather than having a pool of players to pull from for the games next year. While Ionescu may also get the call for 5×5 Basketball, it appears that 3×3 is where she is shining, at least at the moment.

By the time the 2020 Olympic Games are here, Ionescu will have graduated from the University of Oregon and may have another feather in her cap as she will look to lead the team toward a National Championship this season IT is not known if her time with FIBA on the international level is complete for the second straight year, but is is certainly winding down.

The Oregon Women’s Basketball team will begin Fall Practice in about a month and along with Ruthy Hebard, Ionescu will look to pick up where she left off last season in the NCAA Tournament.