The U.S. women’s basketball team probably is as much of a lock for a gold medal as any team in the Olympics.
The Americans showed that Saturday, destroying New Zealand 99-47 in a first-round game.
“We were bigger, stronger and deeper,” U.S. coach Van Chancellor said.
New Zealand, spurred by 5-foot-5-inch guard Angela Marino, got out to a small early lead that prompted Chancellor to yank his first team after five minutes. The second unit, led by Swin Cash and Diana Taurasi, sparked a 12-0 run that turned a tie into a 23-11 lead. After that it was history for New Zealand.
“That was the most amazing team I ever played against,” Marino said. “It was just amazing being on the same floor with them.”
With New Zealand coach Tom Maher sitting next to him and Marino next to Maher at the postgame news conference, Chancellor gushed praise for New Zealand’s preparation and coaching. He also pointed out what a great shooter Marino was, though she finished 3 of 15 from the floor.
Cash led all scorers with 19 points and Taurasi added 12. First-teamers Sheryl Swoopes and Lisa Leslie scored 14 and 13, respectively.
Taurasi said she was pleased with her unit, felt it played well together and added that her group could probably play with most of these teams.
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But veteran starter Dawn Staley said that, while the second unit is good, “it will be very good in this kind of game, but come Monday, the games will start dictating some savvy and experience that they don’t have.”