Aurelie Vanderstraeten's 21 points per game this tournament have made her the most efficient scorer on our young Cats' roster — and Italy's Sofia Zuccon will feel that weight tonight. Zuccon brings real craft to the Italian side: 11 points and 2.5 assists a night, sitting at a 58.8 TIB Efficiency rating that marks her as their engine. She can thread a pass and put the ball in the basket in rhythm. But Vanderstraeten is operating on another plane right now — 73 TIB Efficiency, 21 PPG — the kind of form that can carry a group-phase game. This is about more than one duel, of course. Italy U18 Women and our Cats meet with Europe's youth tier watching. Both sides need the result. But in the first 20 minutes, watch how our young Cats' perimeter defense sets up around Vanderstraeten's scoring; watch whether she gets clean looks or finds herself working harder than usual. Zuccon's passing could unlock Italy's spacing — if our guards give her room. Tip-off in about three hours. 🏀