São Paulo, Brazil – Sun Devil women's basketball rising junior Kiara Russell became the second Sun Devil women's basketball player this month to be a part of a championship squad in international competition as the USA won the gold at the FISU America Games.
Russell was part of a USA team that defeated its four opponents – Mexico, Uruguay, Chile and Brazil – by an average of 43.8 points. The USA claimed the gold with a 59-42 win in Saturday's championship game.
Last season, Russell tied for the team lead in steals (1.1 spg) and was second in assists (3.1 apg/15th in the Pac-12) and assist-to-turnover ratio (2.8/2nd in Pac-12/ninth in the nation). In ASU's five postseason games, Kiara Russell made 61 percent of her shots and had 19 assists to go with only six turnovers while also leading the team with six steals.
Earlier this month ASU incoming freshman Iris Mbulito earned Most Valuable Player honors after she helped Spain claim the gold medal at the FIBA U20 Women's European Championship in Sopron, Hungary. Next week ASU incoming freshman Taya Hanson will be playing for Canada at the FIBA U18 Women's Americas Championship (Aug. 1-7 in Mexico City).
The FISU America Games are a multi-sport event sanctioned by the International University Sports Federation (FISU). Alternating with the Summer and Winter Universiades, which invite all the countries of the world for the biennial events, the FISU America Games are a regional multi-sport event similar to the Pan-American Games for FISU member-countries of North and South America held in even-numbered years.
Russell was part of a USA team that defeated its four opponents – Mexico, Uruguay, Chile and Brazil – by an average of 43.8 points. The USA claimed the gold with a 59-42 win in Saturday's championship game.
Last season, Russell tied for the team lead in steals (1.1 spg) and was second in assists (3.1 apg/15th in the Pac-12) and assist-to-turnover ratio (2.8/2nd in Pac-12/ninth in the nation). In ASU's five postseason games, Kiara Russell made 61 percent of her shots and had 19 assists to go with only six turnovers while also leading the team with six steals.
Earlier this month ASU incoming freshman Iris Mbulito earned Most Valuable Player honors after she helped Spain claim the gold medal at the FIBA U20 Women's European Championship in Sopron, Hungary. Next week ASU incoming freshman Taya Hanson will be playing for Canada at the FIBA U18 Women's Americas Championship (Aug. 1-7 in Mexico City).
The FISU America Games are a multi-sport event sanctioned by the International University Sports Federation (FISU). Alternating with the Summer and Winter Universiades, which invite all the countries of the world for the biennial events, the FISU America Games are a regional multi-sport event similar to the Pan-American Games for FISU member-countries of North and South America held in even-numbered years.