Staking its claim to rank among the greatest women’s basketball teams ever assembled, the United States captured a sixth consecutive Olympic gold medal and eighth in nine tries on Sunday.
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After going 2-3 in the group stage and only managing to beat China and Venezuela – the two teams that didn’t advance out of Group A to the knockout stage – Serbia has surged into the gold medal game by first defeating Croatia in the quarterfinals, then putting together one of the most impressive defensive performances of the tournament against Australia, a team that scored 95 points against Serbia in a win during group play.
Referring to Catchings, Bird and Taurasi, Griner said, of herself and the other Olympic rookies, “That can be us”.
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Even with that kind of sustained success by some very talented US teams, this may be the best women’s basketball squad ever assembled.
The United States has been so good for so long that three players on this team won their first gold medals in Athens – Bird, Taurasi and Tamika Catchings – now join a select group of female Olympians who have won four straight in the same event.
“It’s just special”, Moore said.
Rio de Janeiro, Brazil; USA forward/guard Angel Mccoughtry (8) shoots the ball against Spain center Lucila Pascua (13) in the women’s basketball gold medal match during the Rio 2016 Summer Olympic Games at Carioca Arena 1.
Despite the loss, Spain’s silver is the country’s first medal in women’s basketball.
Humbled 103-63 by the U.S.in preliminary round play, Spain had looked determined to offer more resistance in the final, holding a 17-14 lead late in the opening quarter. Winning a gold medal at 21 years old is an incredible feat.
Locals watch: Former Husker Danielle Page had 10 points, eight rebounds and three steals for the Serbia women’s basketball team, which defeated France 70-63 for the bronze medal.
Unlike their semifinal win over France when the Americans looked discombobulated for a half, the US was more fluid offensively. They’re professionals, they’re supposed to put on a show, they’re supposed to entertain.
The infamous 1992 Dream Team scrimmage this was not.
Diana Taurasi and Lindsay Whalen scored 17 points apiece for the Americans, gold medallists for the eighth time in 10 appearances.
That was apparent in the early going Saturday, when Spain actually – get this – led for a few moments. Taurasi made two 3-pointers in the spurt and Moore and Breanna Stewart each added four points.
But after Angel McCoughtry hit a layup and connected on two free throw attempts the USA never trailed again. Against Spain, Thompson again stepped up with 17 points in the first half en route to a team-high 22 points.
“Serbia came within a whisker of beating us in our pool play so we absolutely respect them”, Krzyzewski said. “I can’t believe it’s on my neck”.
The average margin of victory for the U.S.in their Olympic games was almost 40 points, and the closest game was a 19-point victory over France in the semifinals.
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“She had just a storybook tournament people will be talking about for a long time”, United States coach Geno Auriemma said.
