U.S. Women’s Basketball Team Defeats China
Posted on August 11, 2008
Filed Under olympics, Sports, Women | Comments Off on U.S. Women’s Basketball Team Defeats China
The U.S. women’s basketball team quickly dashed any hopes China had of an upset, beating them 108-63 on Monday.
Tina Thompson scored 13 of her 27 points during a 23-0 run in the first quarter.
Trailing by one midway through the first quarter, Thompson took over, hitting from everywhere. She made two 3-pointers, a jumper from the corner, two layups, and three free throws during the spurt.
Sylvia Fowles added 18 points, Candace Parker 12, and Leslie had 10 points and 10 rebounds for the U.S.
The women’s team took in the electric atmosphere the night before when the men’s team routed China 101-70. They were determined to take the crowd out of the game early. The Americans got off to a much better start than their first game, when they found themselves trailing 13-2 to the Czech Republic before turning the game into a rout.
The U.S. seemed focused to play the host country after losing to them in the gold medal game of the Good Luck Beijing tournament in April. However, that U.S. team only had four players from the current Olympic team on it.
China figured to be the toughest test for the Americans in their pool. Up next will be a matchup with Mali (0-2), which lost star player Hamchetou Maiga to an ankle injury in the third quarter of a 81-47 loss to the Czechs. (NYT)
