Advertisement - Click to support our sponsors.
Monday, September 4, 2000
The United States Women's National Team delighted fans at the Stan Sheriff Center in their domestic tour aloha performance before the 100 Olympics open Women hoop
it up in finaleBy Al Chase
Star-BulletinThe Americans left for Sydney, Australia, last night after overpowering the USA Women's Select Team, 97-31.
The Select Team, top college players who won the Jones Cup earlier this summer in Taiwan, never quit, but were no match for the National Team professionals.
Are Americans ready to defend their Olympic gold medal? Almost.
This was just the second game USA head coach Nell Fortner had all 12 players available.
Everyone played at least 13 minutes and there was no lack of intensity or focus despite the one-sided score.
"I really think we can get better because chemistry means a lot and we're not totally jelled, but we definitely have come a long way," said point guard Teresa Edwards, heading to her fifth Olympics.
"It feels better. Everyone understands what Nell wants. There's no more tugging about your game. Everybody is thinking about what she wants.
"It's hard to judge from today because it's a whole different level for those kids. They are a great bunch of kids. Give them credit for trying. They're young and haven't been together as long as we have. We'd get dogged if we didn't do well."
The Select Team scored first on a short jumper by Kelly Schumacher and tied the score at 4-4 on a second Schumacher basket.
But, with the Olympians employing a full-court press, the Select Team was subjected to a 36-5 blitz over the next 13 minutes, 34 seconds.
When Fortner called off the press, the Olympians were shooting 58 percent from the field, the Select Team just 19 percent.
The Olympians forced bad, off-balance shots, blocked or stripped the ball when the Select Team got it inside and scored numerous points with their transition game.
"Americans are known for playing transition basketball," said point guard Dawn Staley, who will become the head women's basketball coach at Temple University after the Olympics.
"We like to get up and down. We like to make it chaotic".
Staley also thinks the team is close to being ready for the Olympic challenge.
"It's a feeling. I think until we're put into a situation where we're able to trust and get good results, then you feel better about taking the court," she said.
"Don't get me wrong. I think our talent can get us by in some basketball games, but when we get in the trenches and we need a bucket or a defensive stop, that is when the trust will come and play an important role."
"I think we've always played pretty good defense," said Edwards, who had a game-high seven assists.
"With this team, we do little things that are different. In a small way, I think it takes the game to a different level. There are some strategic things that I like that I've never done before."
"I'm really proud of how this team played today," said Fortner. It really speaks highly of the leadership of this team."
Chamique Holdsclaw led six Olympians in double figures with 14 points.
The victory was Fortner's 89th as national women's head coach, make her USA Basketball's all-time winningest coach (89-14).
The Americans (34-2) have four more pre-Olympic games in Australia before opening group play against South Korea Sept. 16.
"I think Russia will be really tough," said Edwards. "Brazil is going to be better. They are a tournament play team.
"Australia definitely will be tough on their home turf, but we know them and they know us. Poland and Slovakia might surprise and never count Cuba out."
USA National 97, USA Select 31
USA Women's Select Team
fg fga ft fta min reb a tp Bird 0 5 0 0 28 2 3 0 Ferdinand 0 8 1 2 20 2 0 1 Wyckoff 0 1 0 0 15 1 1 0 Schumacher 4 4 0 0 25 2 0 8 Cooper 1 4 1 1 23 2 0 3 McCain 0 7 0 0 10 1 1 0 Stiles 1 7 5 6 19 0 0 7 Ralph 1 3 0 0 17 2 0 0 Payne 2 7 0 0 11 0 0 5 Jackson 2 4 1 2 14 4 1 5 Anderson 1 3 0 0 18 1 0 2 Team 6 Totals 11 53 8 11 200 23 6 31 USA Women's National Team
fg fga ft fta min reb a tp Edwards 1 2 0 0 23 2 7 2 Bolton-Holifield 5 11 0 0 14 0 3 10 Leslie 5 6 2 2 18 6 3 12 Griffith 6 6 0 1 18 5 0 12 McCray 3 4 2 4 18 1 4 8 Staley 0 0 0 0 16 4 4 0 Swoops 4 6 2 2 16 4 3 11 Milton 5 6 1 2 18 2 2 11 Holdsclaw 6 7 2 4 20 6 3 14 Wolters 2 5 0 0 13 0 2 4 Williams 3 4 2 2 13 3 1 8 Smith 2 5 1 1 13 0 1 5 Team 6 Totals 42 62 12 18 200 39 33 77 Key--fg: field goals; fga: field goals attempted; ft: free throws; fta: free throws attempted; min: minutes; reb: rebounds; a: assists; tp: total points.
Halftime score-USA National 50, USA Select 17.
3-point goals-USA Select 1-13 (Payne 1-4, Bird 0-1, Wyckoff 0-1, Jackson 0-1, Ralph 0-1, McCain 0-2, Stiles 0-3), USA National 1-6 (Swoops 1-1, Smith 0-2, BOlton-Holifield 0-3). Personal fouls-USA Select 16, USA National 15. Fouled out-None. Steals-USA Select 3 (Ferdinand, Cooper, McCain), USA National 15 (Griffith, Williams 3). Blocked shots-USA Select 1 (Cooper), USA National, 7 (Leslie 3). Turnovers-USA Select 26 (Bird, Ralph 4), USA National 14 (Edwards, Staley, Swoops 2). Technicals-none. Officials-Bell, Kantner. A-3,867.
Sydney 2000 Olympics