Team USA broke an Olympic record for points scored and assists in their win over China to finish group play 5-0. (Mandatory Credit: Geoff Burke-US PRESSWIRE)
|
1 |
2 | 3 | 4 |
F |
|
|
TEAM USA |
31 |
30 | 33 | 18 | 116 |
|
China |
29 |
8 | 12 | 20 | 66 |
| USA: D. Taurasi – 22pts | CHN: N. Chen – 16pts |
The American men’s team may have struggled in their fifth game but the women’s team continued to roll on Sunday, blowing out the Chinese -.
It started with reminders of the men’s struggles as the women’s team struggled to get a three point lead over Team China at the end of the first. But after the hiccups to start the game, the American’s stormed back with a vengeance, demolishing the Chinese in the final three quarters. At one point in the third quarter, Team USA led China 92-45.
Team USA finishes group play with an outstanding 5-0 record and now enter the knockout stages riding a wave of excellence. It’s going be Team Canada’s goal to crash that wave and withstand the blows that this American team can deliver.
But the story of the day will be about the sheer dominance that the women showed today in a game that was said to be by some, a close match. Instead the American’s tied their own previously held Olympic record for points scored with 114. With under 0:30 left, the American’s tied the record but they respected the score and the blowout element and rather than go for flash and show, they settled for tying the record for points scored rather than break it.
They did however, set the record for assists. But according to the women on the team, the records don’t matter. Instead it’s the fact that the women can win their fifth straight gold medal — something that has never been done before in Olympic history.
