The United States Women’s National Team found itself in a tight affair after one half of action against Australia in Sunday’s exhibition at Madison Square Garden, but a big third quarter created plenty of separation in a 104-89 victory for the USWNT to finish up its exhibition schedule prior to the Olympics. Moore also led the team with six rebounds as the Americans won the battle on the boards, 41-33.
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“As far as this being my fourth Olympics, I’m going to treat it like my first, I really am”, Taurasi said. “When you have that sort of synergy, you feel good going on the court”. “It’s given us a lot of confidence going into Rio”. And this team is still growing. Next month we’ll take turns filling that role. Australia, ranked No. 2 in the world entering the Olympic tournament, lost for the first time after previous wins against Canada and France earlier in the week.
But, as their trip to Rio approaches and exhibition play closes, the U.S. Women’s National Team reflected on the importance of remaining engaged, especially after a tough showing from Australia.
“I believe the team is capable of winning a gold medal”, U.S center Tina Charles said. “That’s what I believe we can do”.
The U.S. honored former Olympians Teresa Edwards, Lisa Leslie, Dawn Staley, Gail Marquis and Juliene Simpson.
IOC boss is firm • International Olympic Committee President Thomas Bach defended the committee’s recent decision not to ban Russia’s entire Olympic team and said the country’s doping scandal will not damage the credibility of the Rio de Janeiro Games. Elena Delle Donne scored 17 of her 19 points in the first half as Team USA poured in 54 points, but Australia’s offense was humming as well, which kept the game close. She scored 12 points on seven total shots and grabbed five rebounds.
The U.S., which had 13 fastbreak points, committed just five turnovers over the final 35:37.
Diana Taurasi and the US women’s national basketball team capped their pre-Olympic tour with a dominant offensive show against Australia.
In his fourth Olympic appearance, Anthony has the chance to tie the record for most gold medals in Olympic men’s basketball and become the most decorated men’s basketball player in the history of the Games.
“Today, at times, when things weren’t going well, that could have easily been a game … that could have went south real quick”, Taurasi said. “When you have that memory of you think you know what’s going to happen, you kind of don’t get excited”.
“I have never seen anyone dominate a game like Diana”, Auriemma said.
“Mutual respect is the biggest thing between the three of us”, Catchings said. And there’s things we’ve got to get better at, no question. We get the stops, we have the all-around game. I’m glad we got this friendly game with them before a tough stretch.
Every team is going to compete at the highest level, when they play U.S.A. Australia’s one of those teams we always face in the medal rounds.
Austalia may have figured out Delle Donne, but it was too little too late with an 85-69 lead and just under a minute to go in the third. She went 4-for-5 in the field and 4-for-4 in free throws. Delle Donne (19 points) and Brittney Griner (15) were controlling the defensive paint, while McCoughtry and Lindsay Whalen were applying pressure on the perimeter.
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Delle Donne rallied the Americans scoring 11 points in the first quarter, hitting all four of her shots. The explosion was part of 30-8 run. I think our greatest strength is our depth, and the fact anyone cans step up. “That’s how we wear teams down. So, when we come in we really have to come in and pedal to the metal, play the best we can and then give people a rest and let them come in and do the same”.
