While this win didn’t come in the same record fashion the US opened the Olympics with when it beat Senegal by 65 points, the Americans coasted after the first few minutes.
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The U.S., which scored 100 or more points in consecutive games for the first time since the 2004 Olympics, next plays Serbia on Wednesday while Spain faces China. Stewart, who won four titles under Auriemma at UConn, scored 15 points, tied for the team lead with Taurasi and Sylvia Fowles.
Seimone Augustus and Sylvia Fowles helped the US bring home gold medals in 2008 and 2012, while Maya Moore and Lindsay Whalen were new to the roster 2012 at the games.
The Brazilian fans tried to spur on the African country, cheering loudly every time they scored and booing the USA when the Americans had the ball.
The U.S. defense smothered Senegal all game long, forcing Senegal into BLANK turnovers.
They showed that Sunday as they rolled passed Senegal with a record-setting win in their first game in Rio.
The 65-point margin of victory was the biggest ever in women’s competition at an Olympics, bettering a 60-point win by the USA over Zaire at the 1996 Atlanta Olympics.
The Americans were a 57.5-point favorite coming into the contest. The Americans led 35-9 after the first quarter and by 43 at the half.
This team is so good offensively that reigning WNBA MVP Elena Delle Donne comes off the bench and Tamika Catchings is the 12th player. She only had two against Senegal.
Sue Bird wouldn’t let Spain get any closer. Delle Donne added 11.
Spain fought just to stay within 20 in the second quarter, thanks in part to the play of guard Leticia Romero, who stars at Florida State. The African nation lost all six of its games in 2000. The Americans won all four by an average of almost 49 points.
It wasn’t quite the 65-point smackdown that was delivered to Senegal over the weekend, but Team USA’s 40-point victory over Spain on Monday may have been just as impressive given Spain’s standing as the third-ranked team in the world.
Mark Cuban, his new boss.
Cuban has been opposed to NBA players competing in the Olympics, but the Dallas Mavericks owner gave Bogut the clearance he needed to play for Australia after injuring his left knee in the NBA Finals.
Alba Torrens, who the Connecticut Sun have the rights to in the WNBA, led Spain with 20 points. Auriemma had spoken for days leading up to Sunday’s game about how his team was so anxious to get started, he welcomed the idea of playing back-to-back games.
Bogut sustained bone bruises in Game 5 while playing for Golden State. “We hope to play even better in our next one”.
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But he said Cuban and the team have been first class in their dealings with him. I was thoroughly impressed and really, really happy the way it played out for them. Spain’s a really good team, but I think when you look at our depth and all the people that we have that can keep the pressure going, after a while it starts to take its toll on the other team. “You just have to have a wonderful game on your side and they have to be, I don’t know, sick”.
