Venezuela Dominates Dominican Republic in U18 Women's Americup Debut

Venezuela's U18 women's basketball team kicked off their Americup campaign with a strong 77-60 victory over the Dominican Republic. The team showcased a fast-paced offense and a standout performance from Astrid Inojosa, setting a positive tone for the tournament.

The match remained tightly contested for much of the game, with both teams demonstrating flashes of brilliance. The score was nearly even heading into the final quarter, with Venezuela holding a slim one-point lead at 46-45. However, the game's parity dissolved in the closing minutes as Venezuela surged ahead, outscoring their opponents 31-15.

Venezuela's transition offense was a key factor in their success, contributing 26 fast-break points compared to the Dominican Republic's eight. Effective ball movement was also crucial, with the Venezuelan team tallying 17 assists throughout the game.

Astrid Inojosa was the undisputed star of the match, leading all scorers with an impressive 33 points. She also contributed significantly with three blocks, four steals, and six assists. Alexandra Cabeza provided valuable support on the boards, grabbing 11 rebounds for Venezuela. For the Dominican Republic, Nathal Santana scored 17 points, while Alanna Monte secured 16 rebounds.

Venezuela is competing in Group A of the Americup U18 women's tournament, held in Irapuato, Mexico. Their next game is scheduled against Puerto Rico, with Canada also in their group.