UNC Basketball: Kelly and Team USA roll past Venezuela

The UNC basketball star and Team USA left little doubt in their pool play opener against Venezuela on Saturday afternoon.

Deja Kelly’s Team USA debut will go down as a memorable one, as they began pool play with a convincing victory over Venezuela on Saturday afternoon in Leon, Mexico.

The UNC basketball star started at point guard for Team USA, finishing the game with 9 points, four assists, and three rebounds. Angel Reese of LSU and Rikea Jackson of Tennessee led the balanced United States scoring attack with 11 points each.

Kelly connected on three of her seven shots from the floor, including three of her six attempts at the free-throw line.

If you needed a reminder that Team USA was the clear-cut favorite in this event, the victory against Venezuela was a rather good one. Right out of the gate, the United States took control, as they led 20-5 after one quarter while taking a 30-point lead into the half.

The UNC basketball rising senior did most of her damage in the first half to coincide with Team USA’s dominance. Kelly put together a strong defensive performance while also making some quality passes that led to open shots for her teammates.

It will be a quick turnaround for Team USA, as they’ll battle Argentina in their second pool play game on Sunday afternoon. Tip-off is scheduled to begin at 4:40 PM EST.

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