RIO DE JANEIRO After two routs to open the Olympic women’s basketball tournament, the question is not so much will the all-conquering United States win a sixth straight gold medal but will they ever lose again.
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Taurasi hit four three-pointers in the 1st quarter on her way to 15 points while Breanna Stewart, making her Olympic debut, scored 15 as well in the victory at Youth Arena in Rio to begin Group B pool play.
The 65-point victory margin surpassed the prior USA mark from a 107-47 victory over the Democratic Republic of Congo set at the 1996 Atlanta Olympics.
If the United States continues their scoring bombardment, they may threaten the 1996 U.S. Olympic team’s scoring record of 102.4 points per game.
Team USA will return to action when they take on Spain Monday morning at 11:00 a.m. ET.
Diana Taurasi finished with 15, all on 3s.
Elena Delle Donne and Sylvia Fowles each added 12 points for the Americans, who are five-time defending Olympic champions and reigning world champions. Taurasi’s 12 points in the first quarter bested Senegal’s entire team.
Brittney Griner would love to be the second woman to dunk in the Olympics, though it’s not the piece of history she really hopes to get. All 12 USA women played and scored as the Americans shot 65 percent from the field. The Americans were used to that having last played in Brazil in 2006 when they lost in the semifinals of the world championship. Griner had 14 points, seven rebounds and two blocks. Of course, the extent to which the US will be driven by the three-pointer in this and coming tournaments has a lot to do with two of the three newcomers-both Elena Delle Donne and Breanna Stewart are perfectly comfortable shooting from deep.
The U.S. had no trouble sharing the ball, with 31 of its 38 made field goals assisted, but George said afterwards that the squad is still adjusting to worldwide play and each other. I haven’t necessarily got the breakdown of all the teams. “Defensively, we’re still trying to straighten out [a few things]”.
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But Maya Moore, who many consider to be the best player on the planet, hasn’t found her rhythm yet – meaning this team could get better.
