After Spain made free throws with 2:59 left in the first quarter, the US advantage was 19-14, but the red, white and blue closed with 3s from Diana Taurasi (Phoenix Mercury) and Elena Delle Donne (Chicago Sky) and four points fromSylvia Fowles (Minnesota Lynx), which put the Americans up 29-14 at the first quarter break.
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USA women’s basketball team head coach Geno Auriemma appreciated what he’d seen during Sunday’s record-setting annihilation of Senegal to open group play at the 2016 Summer Olympics in Rio de Janeiro.
The game started fairly close, with the USA only leading by 17 at the midway point following a competitive second quarter.
In the second quarter, the teams played more evenly and Spain’s Alba Torrens put up 13 points by the half, finishing the game with 20 points.
After two consecutive 40 (or more) point victories, Bird and the rest of her flock turn their focus to their next game against Serbia, a team the United States knows very well. The Americans are trying to win a sixth consecutive gold medal.
“A lot of Olympic teams that I’ve been on have had offensive power, but now we go all the way down the line to the 12th player”, said Bird, who had nine points and five assists. I know the score is, it is what it is.
Sue Bird wouldn’t let Spain get any closer. Delle Donne, the reigning WNBA MVP, contributed 12 points and four rebounds to the victory. It’s fun to watch how much they’ve grown and how much they’ve changed. The Americans weren’t quite as dominant on Monday, but they still won with relative ease and improve to 2-0.
The U.S. shot just 5-for-16 from long distance and committed 12 turnovers of their own.
“Everyone we bring in off the bench can score and make a play”, USA coach Geno Auriemma said.
Spain almost kept pace with the U.S. in the second quarter, which saw the United States of America outscore Spain just 25-23, and the score was 54-37 at halftime.
In 81 minutes through two games, USA’s starting guards have been really careful with the ball. A few minutes later the lead was over 20 and the rout was on as Taurasi and Brittney Griner waved their arms to get a “USA” chant started. The USA defeated Spain 77-64 in the 2014 World Cup and 71-58 at the 2004 Athens Olympics.
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I told him make sure he has his green and gold jersey on watching the game and he threw a couple of other words I cant repeat and said lets go, Bogut said.
