OTTAWA, Ontario — Team USA defeated China 71-47 in the quarterfinals of the 2026 IWBF World Championships for Women on Sept. 16 at TD Place.

The United States led 21-12 after the first quarter, 36-25 at halftime and 53-39 entering the fourth before finishing the 24-point win. The result sends the U.S. women into a semifinal matchup against Great Britain.

Four U.S. players scored in double figures. Ixhelt Gonzalez and Lindsey Zurbrugg each finished with 16 points, Courtney Ryan scored 13 and Rose Marie Hollermann added 12. Hollermann collected 14 rebounds, Gonzalez finished with seven rebounds and seven assists, and Zurbrugg had nine assists, three steals and a block.

FIRST-QUARTER SEPARATION

China tied the game at 4-4 before the United States began building its advantage. Ryan scored at 7:39 and again at 6:30, Hollermann followed with a basket, and Gonzalez made it 12-6 with 5:06 remaining.

Hollermann later stole a pass and assisted Zurbrugg for a basket and free throw that pushed the margin to 19-10 with 2:16 left. Zurbrugg added another basket at 1:47 before USA finished the quarter ahead 21-12.

Eaton said creating larger offensive gaps was a point of emphasis.

“We have a bunch of shooters on our team, so that obviously helps,” Eaton said. “But one of our biggest game plans is while we can take outside shots, we want to be able to get layups.”

SECOND-QUARTER RUN

USA created more separation in the middle of the second quarter. Zurbrugg converted a layup for a 25-16 lead, Becca Murray scored at 6:32, Hollermann followed at 5:49 and Ryan finished a layup off a Hollermann assist to make it 31-16 with 5:05 remaining.

China cut into the margin before halftime, including a three-pointer from Peixi Zuo with 29.6 seconds remaining, but USA entered the break ahead 36-25.

The Americans finished the game with 26 assists on 32 made field goals while committing only two turnovers.

Eaton said communication was central to the defensive approach.

“We talked a lot about communication in our pregame huddle, being together as one unit and communicating early and often so that way everybody knew who was going where and who was crossing, where those gaps were that we needed to make smaller,” Eaton said.

THIRD-QUARTER ANSWERS

USA opened the second half with a Zurbrugg free throw and a Hollermann basket. Ryan and Gonzalez then scored on consecutive possessions to give the United States a 43-27 lead with 8:05 remaining in the third.

China reduced the margin to 43-33 with 5:03 left, but Zurbrugg scored at 4:12 and again at 3:28. Murray added two baskets later in the quarter, and Zurbrugg scored with 2.8 seconds remaining to give USA a 53-39 lead entering the fourth.

FOURTH-QUARTER FINISH

USA opened the fourth with Josie Aslakson, Eaton, Emily Oberst and Gonzalez entering alongside Zurbrugg. Oberst grabbed a defensive rebound and scored a layup on the next U.S. possession, then scored again at 7:45 to make it 59-41.

Eaton identified the lineup featuring Oberst and Gonzalez, both classified at 4.5, as a notable stretch for the United States.

“I think where we really saw a momentum shift and we really played USA basketball was when our double 4-5 lineup came in,” Eaton said. “And that’s not a lineup that we’ve used super often.”

Oberst credited the low-point players with helping create opportunities inside.

“Every time help goes to their side, those ones seal me in, and they make such a big difference,” Oberst said.

Gonzalez scored three times during the final six minutes, and Bailey Moody’s layup with 1:40 remaining gave USA a 71-43 advantage. China scored the final four points for the 71-47 final.

“We never let our foot off the gas,” Oberst said. “And that entire game, no matter what lineup it was, we were putting pressure on China, outside of the key, inside the key, and our defense never let up.”

USA finished with a 42-29 rebounding advantage and held China to 39 percent shooting. The Americans now move on to face Great Britain in the semifinals.