The last two games, the USA Basketball Women’s National Team has done a pretty good job of keeping it 100.
It may not have been the historic 121-56 effort they filed in against Senegal, but Team USA gave the Olympics another dominant performance, emphatically dispatching Spain, the No. 3 ranked team in the world (FIBA), by a final of 103-63.
They have now won 43 consecutive games contested under the five rings.
There were, once again, familiar faces that played notable roles for the Stars and Stripes. Diana Taurasi scored 13 points. Sylvia Fowles and Elena Delle Donne had 12 each. Angel McCoughtry and Brittney Griner had 10 each and they got five assists each from Tina Charles and Sue Bird.
Alba Torrens scored 20 points for Spain and Astou Ndour added 13.
Spain was expected to give Team USA a tougher test than they encountered in the contest the previous day against Senegal. For much of the game they did, but it was a still a 54-37 game in favor of Team USA at the half. Even after three quarters, said lead was 23 (74-51).
Leads in the late teens and low 20s are blowouts by any basketball standards, whether said hoops is played in the domestic confines of the WNBA or the international stage of the Olympics/FIBA.
But, given Team USA’s consistent dominance over its competition, and somewhat because of thrashing Senegal by 65, a USA lead by only 17 or 23 seems manageable given the standard.
This was until Team USA outscored Spain 29-12 in the fourth quarter and once again cracked the century mark.
No USA hoops Tuesday, but they will be back on the hardwood on Wednesday at 2:30 p.m. vs. Serbia (NBCSN).
By: Akiem Bailum (@AkiemBailum on Twitter, Instagram)
