UConn incoming freshman Breanna Stewart had 17 points, 12 rebounds, three assists and two blocked shots as the United States defeated Argentina 68-28 in a Group A game Thursday at the FIBA Americas U18 Championships.

Fellow incoming freshmen Morgan Tuck (12 points, 3 rebounds) and Moriah Jefferson (6 points, 6 assists) also helped the U.S. to improve to 2-0 in pool play. The U.S. wraps up pool play at 3:45 p.m. against Columbia.

Here are quotes from Stewart and Tuck courtesy of USA Basketball

BREANNA STEWART
On her play in today's game:I just wanted to let the game come to me. They were pressuring a lot of our players and it left people open. I just got some good looks.
On the team�s overall play against Argentina:
Our mindset coming into the game was really good. We knew that we had to pressure (Michaela Sol Sancisi) and (Victoria Llorente), and we worked together really well on defense.
In the second half it looked as if the team lost some of its energy, was that the case?
I think it's just our focus. We just need to learn to stay focused. That'll come hopefully in the next couple of days, because we're not together for that much longer. We need to just stay focused and remember that we still have to go out and play another half.
Is it due to the fact that you were up by so much?Yeah, I think that's part of it. We always have to go into the second half, no matter what the score is, like it's 0-0 so that we can play our best and give our best effort.
On her play in today's game: I just wanted to let the game come to me. They were pressuring a lot of our players and it left people open. I just got some good looks. On the team's overall play against Argentina: Our mindset coming into the game was really good. We knew that we had to pressure (Michaela Sol Sancisi) and (Victoria Llorente), and we worked together really well on defense. In the second half it looked as if the team lost some of its energy, was that the case? I think it's just our focus. We just need to learn to stay focused. That'll come hopefully in the next couple of days, because we're not together for that much longer. We need to just stay focused and remember that we still have to go out and play another half. Is it due to the fact that you were up by so much? Yeah, I think that's part of it. We always have to go into the second half, no matter what the score is, like it's 0-0 so that we can play our best and give our best effort.

MORGAN TUCK
On today's game: I think Argentina's a really good team. We definitely came in with a pretty specific game plan. It was a great game for us to work on, being mentally focused and listen to what our coach said.
At the end of the game it looked as if your team slowed down or lost intensity:
I think our mental focus went away a little bit because we were up by a lot, so we knew we didn't have to play exactly how we did in the first half. That's something we can learn from to make sure that we finish the game out.
Your shots weren't falling like last night. What were some of the things you were doing to counter that?
We were trying to do other things. Just because the offense might not be there, I can�t shut it down. I definitely tried to play really good defense, so even though I wasn�t really helping much on offense, I definitely wanted to help on defense.
On the team's defense:
It was probably one of our best team efforts. We definitely played really great team defense. Everyone listened to what coach said. Everyone was mentally focused. Everyone was into the game.