Women's basketball: August 2008 Archives

Lisa Leslie had a double-double in a 93-55 win for the United States over Spain in women's basketball.
Leslie scored 14 points and had 11 rebounds as the United States (4-0) stayed undefeated in Olympic play. Spain dropped to 2-2.
But the final score was not indicative of the game. The United States had a 19-4 lead in the first half, but Spain cut the lead to five at halftime.
"I think the team said I jinxed them because I told them to look at the clock and the score was like 19-4 with only two minutes left and then they scored 14 points or something," said Leslie, who plays for the Los Angeles Sparks in the WNBA. "So that really was a let down, I think they had four 3-pointer in that span, we missed some assignments and we didn't have our rotation. But you know, we needed that, that's a wake-up call. Whenever you give a team the day of light and you don't follow what you're supposed to do defensively, it can hurt you and it hurt us there."
Candace Parker, who also plays for the Los Angeles Sparks, had 13 points and five rebounds. Tina Thompson, a player from Los Angeles on the WNBA's Houston Rockets, led five U.S. players in double figures. She had 17 points and seven rebounds.
"The game was great for us because it allowed us to play from a closer score," Parker said. "Obviously we lost our focus a little bit at the end first quarter but we were able to get it back in the second half."
The United States won by 38 points, but the game was much closer than that and Spain gave the U.S. its first test of the Olympics.
"It's good and bad, I think, it's a Catch 22, because you see us win by so much and then every time that lead gets cut a little less you think 'Oh, the USA is not ready to play' or other than that the other team is really good," Lesie said. "For us we have to fight hard for four quarters, really stick with our defensive schemes and I think we'll be OK. I'm sure the games will become a lot more challenging as we face more talented teams."
Leslie was asked after the game what she thinks are important to be a good team.
"Just understanding the principles that our coaches want us to follow and just really sticking to what our defensive schemes are, then offensively making the right reads and reading the defense," Leslie said. "Basketball is not necessarily that simple, but as far as building the chemistry that's probably been the most amazing part of it. The fact that we understand each other; Tina and I have played together a lot so we understand each other in the post, then Diana (Taurasi) and Sue (Bird) have played together a lot so I think that helps as well."

Tina Thompson from Los Angeles led all scorers with 27 points in the United States' 108-63 win over China in women's basketball pool play on Monday. Thompson plays for the Houston Comets in the WNBA.
Lisa Leslie of the Los Angeles Sparks of the WNBA had a double-double with 10 points and 10 rebounds.
"I think our defense is definitely improving, we're making good adjustments for each team, but we have to stay focused," Leslie said. "Usually it's just that one game when you're not shooting well that catches up with you so we're really trying to prevent that. I think we have a really deep bench and what's good is we're not having any drop off."
Her Sparks teammate Candace Parker had 12 points. The Americans shot 57 percent from the field.
"It says a lot about our mentality and how hard we're willing to play from start to finish, no matter what the score is," Parker said.
Thompson made 10 of her 14 shots, including two 3-pointers. Four Americans scored in double figures.
Parker said the United States team is improving with each game.
"Yeah, it's getting a little better," Parker said. "Obviously today we got better playing defense and running the floor. When things aren't going your way you have to work on that, running the floor, getting hands on balls, being active, things like that. I think our starters started it off right and our bench kept it going and took it up a notch."
The U.S. is 2-0 and continues Group B play on Wednesday when they face Mali.
"You can always get better," said DeLisha Milton-Jones, another member of the Sparks on the U.S. women's team. "One thing that we stressed at halftime was that China had a lot of offensive rebounds. They were able to get put-backs and that put us in trouble because normally in that situation you end up fouling. Anytime you see a score like that at halftime, believe you me our coaches are going to find something for us to work on."