Former Quinnipiac rugby star Ilona Maher scored three tries in as many games to lead the U.S. women’s rugby sevens team into the knockout round at the Olympic Games on Monday, and the Americans made history by beating Great Britain 17-7 to advance to the semifinals for the first time ever.
Maher, who was a three-time All-American at Quinnipiac, recorded tries in both of Team USA’s victories against Japan and Brazil on the first day of group play Sunday. The two-time Olympian’s performance was headlined by a viral stiff arm against Japan that resulted in a nearly 80-yard run for the score. Maher added her third try against France on Monday morning, but the Americans suffered their first loss of the Games against the host nation 31-14.
Team USA pulled off the upset of Great Britain after the British eliminated them from the Olympics in the 2020 quarterfinals. Great Britain went on to finish fourth in Tokyo after losing to Fiji in the bronze medal match, and the Americans landed in sixth. Now, Team USA moves on to the semifinals for the first time in women’s rugby where it will face reigning gold medalist New Zealand on Tuesday in Paris.
UPDATED PHOTOS: Olympic athletes with Connecticut ties in action at the Paris Games
Results from Paris Olympics Day 4
Oliver Bub, rowing
CT connection: Westport
Bub and partner Billy Bender finished third in the men’s pair repechage with a time of 6:51.32 to advance to the semifinal race.
Up next: Men’s pair sculls semifinal, July 30 5:10 a.m.
Napheesa Collier, Breanna Stewart and Diana Taurasi, women’s basketball
CT connection: UConn
All three former Huskies stars started for Team USA in a 102-76 rout of Japan. Stewart logged 22 points, eight rebounds three assists and three block on 73% shooting from the field. Collier and Taurasi played 15 minutes apiece, and Collier scored four points with two rebounds and a block. Taurasi put up two points, three rebounds and an assist.
Up next: USA vs. Belgium, Aug. 1 at 3 p.m.
Aaliyah Edwards and Kia Nurse, women’s basketball
CT connection: UConn
Nurse led Canada with 11 points shooting 4-for-9, and Edwards grabbed eight rebounds plus a steal in 21 minutes, but Canada dropped its first group stage game 75-54 to France.
Up next: Canada vs. Australia, Aug. 1 at 7:30 a.m.
Sophie Hamilton, women’s field hockey
CT connection: UConn
Hamilton was scoreless in two shots on goal, and Great Britain was shut out 4-0 by Australia to fall to 0-2 in group play.
Up next: Great Britain vs. South Africa, July 31 at 4:30 a.m.
Margaret Hedemen, rowing
CT connection: Yale
The U.S. women’s eight boat finished second in its preliminary heat, recording the fourth-fastest time of the round of 6:19.00. Romania advanced to the final as the first-place team in the heat, while Team USA will have to compete in the repechage.
Up next: Women’s eight repechage, Aug. 1 at 4:10 a.m.
Karlie Kisha and Beth Yeager, women’s field hockey
CT connection: UConn (Kisha), Greenwich (Yeager)
Team USA tied Spain 1-1 in its second group phase game to improve to 0-1-1 in the tournament. Yeager was scoreless on two shots on goal with the USA’s equalizer coming from Sophia Gladieux.
Up next: USA vs. Australia, July 31 at 7:15 a.m.
Ilona Maher, women’s rugby
CT connection: Quinnipiac
Maher scored her third try in as many games, but Team USA lost its first game of the day 31-14 to France. The team advanced to the quarterfinal with a 2-1 record in the group phase and upset Great Britain to reach the semifinals.
Up next: USA vs. New Zealand, July 30 at 9:30 a.m.
Nick Rusher, rowing
CT connection: Yale
The U.S. men’s eight boat won its repechage heat in a time of 5:29.94 to advance to Final A. Great Britain also advanced to Final A as the winner of the second heat, but the Americans recorded the fastest time of the round.
Up next: Men’s eight final, Aug. 3 at 5:10 a.m.
Gabby Williams, women’s basketball
CT connection: UConn
Williams powered France to a decisive victory 75-54 over Canada with 12 points, eight assists, five steals and three rebounds shooting 50% from the field.
Up next: France vs. Nigeria, Aug. 1 at 11:15 a.m.
2024 Paris Olympics: Your ultimate guide to the athletes with Connecticut ties
Connecticut athletes competing on Day 5
4:50 a.m.: Kristi Wagner, USA women’s pair sculls
5:20 a.m.: Daisy Mazzio-Manson and Kelsey Reelick, USA women’s four rowing
6:05 a.m.: Maggie Shea, USA women’s skiff
7:20 a.m.: Kieran Smith, USA men’s 4×200-meter freestyle relay
8:35 a.m.: Ian Barrows, USA men’s skiff
9:30 a.m.: Ilona Maher, USA women’s rugby sevens vs. New Zealand
11:30 a.m.: Jennifer Rizzotti (coach), USA women’s 3×3 basketball vs. Germany
3 p.m.: Tiffany Hayes, Azerbaijan women’s 3×3 basketball vs. Spain; Niels Giffey, Germany men’s basketball vs. Brazil
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