This one was no blowout.
It was a win, and a win is a win however one gets it, but it was a bit closer than what the USA Basketball Women’s National Team has been used to for the most part these Olympics.
Still, when triple-zeroes were reading on the scoreboard, Team USA defeated France, 86-67 to advance to the Gold Medal Game. They will play Spain, which defeated Serbia 68-54 earlier in the day to punch its ticket to the big game on Saturday.
If Team USA wins on Saturday, it will be their sixth consecutive gold medal victory.
As for France, next up for them will be the Bronze Medal Game on Saturday against Serbia.
Diana Taurasi played nearly 31 minutes and added another 18 points to her Olympics total, but did not have as much success with the three-point shot as in previous contests, going only three-for-nine from behind the arc. She also had four assists. Maya Moore finished with 12 points and seven rebounds. Sylvia Fowles contributed 12 points in nearly 19 minutes of play.
In over 21 minutes of play for France, Isabelle Yacoubou had 14 points and Marine Johannes scored 13.
In the first half of this game, Team USA did not put teams completely out like they have other teams in these Games. They only led by four points at the end of the first quarter as well as going into the half.
That 40-36 lead only went in one direction during the third quarter—and that was up. It was 65-44 after the third quarter after Team USA outscored France 25-8.
France had its moments where they took advantage of a USA offense that did not always click, but in situations where the offense did not come through, the defense did en route to a shot at another gold medal.
By: Akiem Bailum (@AkiemBailum on Twitter, Instagram)
