LONDON (AP) The U.S. women's team threw the basketball away and battled through the field. This appeared to be just one sloppy functionality intended for a great Olympic opener.
It as well ended up being an additional victory.
Maybe it absolutely was first-game anxiety or perhaps a hangover from your opening ceremony , though the U.S. didn't look like the powerhouse likely to rule the London Games until finally the fourth district when the item pulled away with regard to an 81-56 success over Croatia.
"It's just one game, a single day," U.S. shield Sue Bird said. "You must found yourself in engage in that will day, if you don't nearly anything can happen."
The Americans just simply defeat Croatia simply by 54 on July 21. Easy wins will be likely using this team, which includes gained 34 right Olympic comps plus some consecutive gold medals.
That decided not to happen Saturday.
"There was a little bit jitters, probably slightly sluggishness," Bird said. "For by far the most portion we all don't complete takes on most people normally surface off. We granted a team which after they operate are generally recognised that will spread out this floor and also aim to struck several 3s because they can, keep with us."
Coming into your Olympics, discipline Geno Auriemma said he or she was expecting the actual Americans could play your type of basketball that is going to be enjoyable and also assist grow this could online game internationally.
That was never the case early on of this one.
Despite not often known it has the very first 14 shots, Croatia strung daunting for your first half an hour prior to Americans lastly drawn away.
"We have got personal training people who have in no way also been inside the Olympics in advance of hence they are likely to end up being nervous. Everybody ended up being just a little nervous," Auriemma said. "We're a lot better than we all showed, however I have no idea which we're gonna become great quickly the particular bat."
The U.S., that has dominated it's opposing team en path to the final several platinum medals, brought 53-49 earlier while in the final quarter before a 16-0 run put the game outside reach.
Angel McCoughtry going this first set of having consecutive layups as well as Tamika Catchings capped that that has a three-point enjoy this created the item 69-49. Swin Cash as well have a three-point play while in the spurt.
McCoughtry complete with 13 items to the U.S., which usually got to come back for you to its hotel at several a.m. right after Friday's beginning ceremony. Tina Charles had 14 factors and also 10 rebounds, along with Candace Parker finished together with 11 details plus thirteen boards.
"We know we are able to participate in greater as well as will," Parker said.
Jelena Ivezic obtained 22 things along with Marija Vrsaljko included 19 intended for Croatia, that is doing its Olympic debut. Vrsaljko not so great the prior matchup previous Saturday while your lover ended up being becoming married.
While the particular Americans enforced their own could on the offense in this contest, some people struggled Saturday.
The U.S. developed some sort of 9-0 lead as Croatia had missed it is primary 14 shots. The Americans happens to be in place plenty more, although missed a great deal of straightforward shots and also made the particular shot over. They finished with 21 turnovers.
"Defensively most people were wonderful within the earliest quarter, i was running, forbidding pictures just would not history knowning that hurts," Parker said. "When an individual search for for the scoreboard at end of first and also it can be 9-4, it's deflating. We please take to try and do much better than that."
Actually ?t had been 11-4, but Parker is appropriate they should have got to play better.
Vrsaljko as a final point became the particular Croatians about the board that has a lay-in with 2 seconds remaining from the first quarter. The U.S. created it's direct for you to 21-9 along with appeared poised for you to have control prior to likely wintry from the particular floor.
Croatia obtained the next fourteen points, capped by Luca Ivankovic's lay-in in which gave the staff their first guide with that game. Ivezic's 3 mins soon after designed this 26-23.
Diana Taurasi had seen enough, hammering consecutive 3s that will restore the Americans' advantage. The U.S. brought 31-28 from the half.
"We performed wonderfully to get 30, 32 minutes," Croatia discipline Stipe Bralic. "We played smart and many of us played good defense. But we trialled against might be the very best unique team ever. They bought 27 second-chance factors and the helps guide you formidable some people are."
It was the 2nd right Olympics how the Americans struggled in their opener. They trailed the particular Czech Republic 13-2 before winning by 40 for the Beijing Games.
The U.S. men's golf ball team, who will be in addition a heavy favorite to help gain the actual gold, decided not to generate that women's opener. It experienced exercise along at the exact same time. The a pair of clubs marched with each other inside the cutting open ceremonies so are remaining in exactly the same hotel.
Next up regarding this U.S. will be Angola, that misplaced that will Turkey 72-50 inside their Olympic debut. The Americans likewise will certainly experience China, Turkey as well as Czech Republic in beach play. The U.S. overcom that Czechs from the finals from the 2010 world championship in order to be entitled to your London Games.
The Czech Republic missing its swimming pool opener, falling in order to China 66-57. Also Saturday, Russia rallied past Canada 58-53, France whip Brazil 73-58, as well as Australia sent host Britain 74-58.
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