STANFORD, Calif. – Stanford shined on the world stage with Alyssa Jerome, Alanna Smith and Jillian Harmon wrapping up standout performances at recently concluded FIBA tournaments across the globe.
An incoming freshman, Jerome captained Canada to bronze at the U19 World Cup in Udine and Cividale del Friuli, Italy, its first podium finish at the event. Smith, a rising junior, debuted for Australia's senior national team at the Asia Cup in Bangalore, India in which the Opals took home silver and qualified for the 2018 FIBA World Cup by virtue of its top-four finish. Jillian Harmon, a 2009 Stanford graduate, was also was in India and averaged a near double-double playing for New Zealand, which came in sixth. Alyssa Jerome • Canada • FIBA U19 World CupIn her fourth FIBA tournament for Canada, Jerome averaged 7.6 points, 6.0 rebounds and 2.0 assists in 26.3 minutes per game. She started off the tournament with a 10-point, 10-rebound double-double in the opener against Korea, a 91-45 win for the Canadians on July 22.
Jerome scored eight points and grabbed seven rebounds in 29 minutes of a 54-45, group-stage win over France on July 23 and filled the stat sheet with seven points, six rebounds, six assists and three blocks against Latvia on July 25, closing out group play with a 74-70 victory.
The 6-foot-2 Jerome tallied 12 points on 4-of-8 shooting to go along with five rebounds as Canada beat Mexico 64-43 in the Round of 16 on July 26. Two days later, she had five points, four rebounds and two assists in the quarterfinals against China, a 68-65 win.
Canada lost its only game of the tournament in the semifinals to Russia on July 29 65-41 and Jerome had five points, two rebounds and two assists. The Canadians won their first medal at the FIBA U19 World Cup by beating Japan 67-60 on July 30. Jerome had six points, eight rebounds and three more blocks to help Canada to its first medal finish at an international FIBA women's event since it won bronze at the 2012 U17 World Championship.Alanna Smith • Australia • FIBA Asia CupSmith was a late add as an injury replacement to the Opals' roster, Australia's senior national team. She showed well at the program's selection camp in Phoenix in late June and didn't disappoint in her first action at the senior level, finishing second on the team in scoring and field goal percentage and third in rebounding.
One of two Opals to score in double figures for the tournament, Smith averaged 10.8 points on 58.3 percent shooting and 5.3 rebounds.
She started the event with a pair of strong performances in group-phase wins over Korea (78-54) and the Philippines (107-65). Smith scored 15 points and pulled down seven rebounds against Korea on July 23 and followed that up with 12 points and another seven boards the next day against the Philippines.
She played just three minutes in the final group-stage game against Japan on July 25, which Australia won 83-74, as a precaution because of a fall.
Australia rolled to victory in the quarterfinals against the Democratic People's Republic of Korea on July 27, 81-48, behind an uber-efficient effort from Smith. The 2017 Pac-12 All-Tournament performer scored a team-high 20 points on 7-of-10 shooting and corralled a game-high nine rebounds in just 15 minutes of action.
Smith had 12 and six in the semifinals against Korea on July 28, which Australia won 81-64 to set up a rematch with Japan for the championship. Australia led by as many as 10 in the first half, but in a game that featured several ties and seven lead changes, Japan wound up pulling it out by one, 74-73. Smith had six points, three rebounds, an assist, a steal and a block in the loss.
She will next feature on the 12-person roster for the Australian Emerging Opals squad that will represent their country at the World University Games in Chinese Taipei in late August.Jillian Harmon • New Zealand • FIBA Asia CupComing off a pro season for Le Mura Lucca in Italy in which she averaged 17.2 points and 6.7 rebounds, Harmon was also a dynamo in Bangalore. She finished fourth in the tournament in scoring (14.0), second in rebounds (9.3) and tied for the lead with three double-doubles in six games.
Harmon started with 14 points and three rebounds of a 77-48 group-stage loss to China on July 23. The Tall Ferns bounced back the following day with a 71-50 romp over the Democratic People's Republic of Korea in which Harmon poured in 23 points on 10-of-20 shooting, collected 13 rebounds, handed out four assists and had three steals.
She had another double-double to close out group play with a 59-53 victory over Chinese Taipei on July 25, going for 15 and 15, and tallied her third consecutive double-double with 13 points and 10 rebounds in a quarterfinal loss to New Zealand on July 27, 64-49.
Harmon had 15 points and nine rebounds in a classification rematch against the Democratic People's Republic of Korea on July 28, which New Zealand won 82-61. The Tall Ferns finished sixth overall by virtue of their 65-45 loss to Chinese Taipei on July 29. Harmon had four points, six rebounds and four assists to conclude her tournament.
