WOMEN'S QUARTERFINAL ROUND-UP
Having trailed 10-21 at the end of the first quarter,
The CSKA Moscow guard scored five points in a 9-0 run to take
With the game still knotted at 51-51, Hammon hit a three-pointer for a 54-51 advantage and following Anna Montanana’s three-ball immediately after, a struggling Maria Stepanova replied for Russia down low and put them in front for good.
Hammon scored 17 points for the game, and most importantly 10 of them in the second half.
“If you would have seen at the pre-tournament (Diamond Ball for Women) two weeks ago, we would have folded so we have made progress,” Hammon said.
“It feels very good. Minor miracle, I hope there are more miracles in store.”
Amaya Valdemoro scored 16 points for
“It’s the same old story with
“I’m tired of losing against
Sylvie Fowles’ all-round showing was the highlight of Team
The Chicago Sky center led the game in scoring as well rebounds, accounting for 26 points and 14 boards, as the defending Olympic gold medalists ran their Asian rivals roughshod in the second quarter.
Fowles had scored 12 points and collected eight rebounds by then.
“I think I was in a good mood and I was feeling very well,” said Fowles. “Once I got started, I didn’t see it stopping.
“It’s a gold medal round, you want to go out there and give it your best, I wanted to make a statement and come out with a bang.”
An 11-4 run in the second quarter only increased
“We are very happy that we put on a good game,”
“We did a great job defensively. Our depth is the key to our success. We are excited about reaching the semi-finals.”
“In terms of physical conditioning, size, they are superior to us. We learned a lot from our opponents,” he said.
On the one hand, the Opals had made the last four grade for the fifth time in six Olympics. But on a more unfortunate note, forward
that leaves her doubtful for the semi-finals – in the early moments of the third quarter.
Taylor, the MVP of the tournament, when Australia won the FIBA World Championship two years ago, rolled her right ankle while attempting to split a pair of Czech defenders and played no further part in the game. The Ekaterinburg player had her right ankle in a tub of ice most of the second half.
Lauren Jackson led the Aussie scoring with had 17 points and 12 rebounds. Belinda Snell contributed 15 and nine boards.
Ivana Vecerova’s words after the game summed up the Czechs’ plight.
“I think to lose by 33 points for the way we played, it was a very good result,” the Gambrinus Brno player said.
But the point of discussion among most Aussies after the game revolved obviously around
“Penny’s situation clouds us a little bit,”
“She’s one of our core players, and our vice-captain,” said Snell underlining
Kristi Harrower sounded more hopeful, saying “I don’t think we’re worried. I hurt my ankle two years ago in the semi-final against
The Haerbin forward returned an impressive scoring record – 10/14 on the floor, sinking three of her five three-pointer attempts and 5/6 from the stripe – to finish with a game-high 28 points.
Miao scored the first five points of the game – first capitalizing on a Nataliya Trafimava turnover and then with a three-pointer.
Miao went on to score 12 points as
“Miao played very well,”
“She really made the difference defensively and offensively.”
Yelena Leuchanka scored six of her 13 points to spark an 8-0 run that cut the deficit to 56-47, but Anatoly Buyalsky’s women got no closer.
“We are excited,” said
Scores
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