Yes, the United States is undefeated at this stage in the competition. But most observers expected Team USA to be in this spot. Canada is also undefeated at 3-0.
First, though, let’s take a look at what happened with China and Spain.
China vs. Spain
A Spain victory would have put their team at 2-1. The same would have happened with China if they were to win its game. This turned out to be a very decisive result going the way of Spain by a final of 89-68.
It was decisive in large part thanks to 32 points from Alba Torrens and 21 more from Astou Ndour. Spain also shot 54 percent from the field.
Ting Shao had 14 and Xiaojia Chen scored 11 for China.
What was a close for much of this contest was not so close in the fourth quarter as China only made four shots from the field in the period. Spain outscored China 25-9 in the fourth quarter, turning what was a competitive, back and forth game into an academic result.
The game sends Spain to 2-1 in group play while China falls to 1-2.
United States vs. Serbia
Speaking of the team from the USA that knows a lot about decisive results going their way…
The question is becoming the same one it typically it with Team USA—not if they will or will not win a game, but by how many points will they win by.
This team has earned victories of 65 and 40 thus far these Games. It would be a 36-point result this time for Team USA, defeating Serbia 110-84 at the Youth Arena.
It was a more uptempo game on both sides of the ledger this time. Diana Taurasi drained six three-point shots en route to leading her team to victory with a 25-point performance. Breanna Stewart added 17 points.
Three players for Serbia—Danielle Page, Jelena Milovanovic, and Sonja Petrovic all had 15 points each.
By any basketball measure, a 31-21 advantage after one quarter would be considered close. That is where Team USA was with Serbia after one period. At the half when Serbia was outscored 25-13, this result was as well as academic.
Serbia is now 0-3 while Team USA advances to 3-0. Next up for the Stars and Stripes is Canada on Friday.
Canada vs. Senegal
Speaking of Canada…
One team that has been a walking symbol of hard luck these Olympics has been Senegal. They are ranked 24th in the world by FIBA and advanced to the Olympics with an upset of Cameroon in the AfroBasket Tournament.
That same Senegal team has lost its first two games of the Rio 2016 Olympics by a combined 102 points (65 to the United States, 37 to China).
Canada would also end up placing Senegal in the loss column, but at least Senegal can take solace in the fact that it was not another blowout. The margin of victory for Team Canada was not 65 or 37, but only ten as they defeated Senegal 68-58. They are now 3-0 for the first time in the Olympics in history.
Despite going only four of 13 from the field, Kia Nurse still was Canada’s leading scorer with 14. Tamara Tatham, in 27 minutes of play contributed 13 points and ten rebounds.
Astou Traore kept Senegal in the game throughout with 24 points along with going ten out of 11 from the free throw line.
Today…
Speaking of undefeated teams, Australia will also be in action in the last game of this day against Japan at 4:45 ET. Also, Belarus faces off against Turkey at 11:15 a.m. ET and France gets Brazil at 2:30 p.m. ET.
The team representing these Olympics’ host nation could use a win in front of their home fans after starting these Games 0-3 and a tough loss to Belarus on Tuesday.
By: Akiem Bailum (@AkiemBailum on Twitter, Instagram)
