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Team USA buckled down from a sloppy performance to score a dominating 91-48 win over Canada to book the first semifinals spot in the ongoing women’s basketball competition of the 2012 London Olympics.
Struggling to find their usual offensive game, USA leaned on their tremendous defense to limit Canada to just 48 points, which is the lowest points-allowed by a US Women’s Basketball squad in Olympic quarterfinals.
USA made life too difficult for the Canadians with their tremendous defensive efforts, building as much as 15-point lead, 19-4, before their allowing four-straight points for their opponents to end the opening period.
If the opening period was all about defense for them, USA became more dangerous in the second period as they suddenly got into their offensive groove as well as in the third period to take a 68-31 lead heading into the final period.
Canada had their moments of brilliance in the early part of the fourth period, but the lead built by USA was simply too much to mount a comeback, allowing their much-favored opponent to cruise with the huge victory.
Diana Taurasi led the Americans with 15 points, Sylvia Fowles and Candace Parker each had 12 points, while Maya Moore and Angel McCoughtry added 11 points apiece, which was simply too much too handle for their Canadian counterparts.
“That’s probably a better feeling than making a 3, when as a unit you found a way to stop them as a unit,” said Taurasi. “That’s really hard to do because to get a shot off isn’t the hardest thing, it might not be a quality one, but you can get a shot off.”
With the win the four-time defending Olympic gold medalist advanced to their eight-straight semifinals and looked poise to successfully defend the title they won in 2008 in Beijing.
USA will face the winner of Australia-China showdown in the semifinals that will take place on Thursday.
2012 London Olympics Women’s Basketball Quarterfinals
USA vs Canada Box Score
(Click for Larger Image)
SOURCE: london2012.fiba.com
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