BRIDGEPORT, Pa. — Rising sophomore Mollie Williams (Sutherland Shire, Australia/Meriden) of Indiana University shot zero-for-two and posted a steal in 20:10 of action as Australia fell to the United States, 17-3, at the Taipei Songshan Sports Center in Taipei City, Chinese Taipei (Taiwan) in the Aussies’ third game of the 29th Summer Universiade/University Games.
Williams, who scored four times with an assist, a steal and a field block in a 10-3 defeat of Greece on Saturday, August 19, in Australia’s opening game of the tournament, raises her tournament totals to an assist, two steals and a field block as she appeared in 7:59 of the game against Italy in an 8-6 loss on Sunday, August 20, prior to departing with three fouls.
The United States wasted little time in putting Australia in a hole as the Americans ran out to a 4-1 lead by the conclusion of the first quarter and built the margin to 9-2 to halftime. Following a 3-0 outburst in the third quarter to put Australia down by double-digits at 12-2, the United States sealed the deal by hammering home five strikes to the Aussies’ one in the fourth quarter for the 17-3 final score.
Australia, which is competing in Group B at the tournament against Greece, the United States, France, Italy and Argentina will close out group play against France (Thursday, August 24) and Argentina (Friday, August 25) prior to the Quarterfinal (Saturday, August 26), Semifinal (Sunday, August 27) and Championship (Tuesday, August 29) rounds.
A 2017 Association of Collegiate Water Polo Coaches (ACWPC) All-America Honorable Mention and Collegiate Water Polo Association (CWPA) All-Conference Second Team selection, Williams joined the Hoosiers at the semester break and led a potent freshman class with 42 goals and six hat tricks, adding 27 assists and 46 steals to the season effort. She led Indiana with 26 drawn exclusions and notched eight field blocks.
