Women's Basketball Preliminaries / Group A
BRA vs. CAN
Brazil Wins Fourth Straight over Canadian Women:
After a strong close in the first half of play on Sunday, Brazil posted its fourth win this summer over the Canadian women's basketball team with a 69-56 victory in both teams' opening Olympic match-up. With 4:57 remaining in the first half, Maria Paula SILVA (BRA) connected on a 3-point field goal to give Brazil a 32-21 advantage. Canada appeared ready to make a strong run by scoring six unanswered points to close the lead to 32-27 before Brazil reeled off six points and closed out the half with a score of 38-27. Both teams played evenly throughout the second half, but Canada was unable to narrow the gap to less than nine points. SILVA and Janeth ARCAIN led Brazil with 17 points each. Andrea BLACKWELL led Canada with 11 points and connected on all five of her shots from the field. Brazil's last defeat of Canada was a semifinal victory at the Pre-Atlanta Challenge in Hamilton, Ontario, Canada. Final Score: BRA 69, CAN 56.
UKR vs. ZAI
Experienced Ukraine Team Defeats Determined Zaire Squad:
The Ukrainian women's basketball team is expected to be in contention for a medal; Zaire's women's team was not even expected to be competing in the 1996 Centennial Olympic Games; so, the final outcome of a 81-65 Ukraine victory was not a big surprise. Zaire, competing in its first major international competition since the 1990 World Championships, opened the game with the determination you would expect from any Olympic Games participant. Kongolo AMBA (ZAI) connected on a short jumper with 17:35 remaining in the first half to give Zaire a 7-2 lead. However, less than 2 minutes later, Ukraine had taken the lead and never looked back as the lead reached as many as 19 points (45-26) at halftime. The Ukraine, which was led by Marina TKACHENKO's (UKR) 27 points, was not pressured in the second half as they cruised to victory. Mabika MWADI (ZAI) led Zaire with 14 points. Final Score: UKR 81, ZAI 65.
USA vs. CUB
United States works hard for win over Cuba. The United States women's basketball team recorded a 101-84 victory over Cuba Sunday in the opening round of the 1996 Olympic Games. The win was the 53rd consecutive international win for the USA national team over the last year. Cuba came out of the gates quickly in the first half and ran to a 20-13 lead on two free throws by Yamilet MARTINEZ (CUB) with 13:28 remaining in the first half. The USA squad came roaring back quickly and tied the game just 1:36 later when Lisa LESLIE connected on a lay-up with 11:49 remaining in the half. That basket gave the United States a lead that it built to 10 points at 54-44 by half-time. Cuba closed the game to within six early in the second half, but a strong run by the USA sealed the victory. LESLIE led the way for the United States with 24 points, while Sheryl SWOOPES and Katy STEDING added 12 and 11 points, respectively. Point guard Dawn STALEY added 7 "wizard-like" assists. Yamilet MARTINEZ led Cuba with 21 points and added 7 rebounds. Final Score: USA 101, CUB 84.
JPN vs. RUS
Russia builds lead in first half and cruises to win.
Russia built an eight point lead at half-time and cruised to a 73-63 victory over Japan Sunday at the 1996 Olympic Games. Japan took its biggest lead of the game with 14:41 remaining in the first half when Aki ICHIJO scored on a jumper in the paint to give Japan a 13-6 lead. Russia then went on a 30-11 run over the next 10:01 to take a 12-point lead at 36-24 with 4:40 remaining in the opening half. The teams exchanged baskets the remainder of the half and Russia held a 45-37 advantage as the buzzer sounded. The Russian squad came out in the second half and built a lead as high as 18 points. Japan, which closed the lead to six points by netting the first basket of the second period, could not manage to cut Russia's lead under 10 points the rest of the way. Yelena BARANOVA led the squad with 21 points and 13 rebounds, while Takako KATO led the Japanese with 15 points and 9 boards. Final Score: RUS 73, JPN 63.
KOR vs. AUS
Australia defeats Korea with strong second half.
Australia, which trailed most of the first half and half-time, put on an impressive show in the second half for a 76-61 win over Korea. In the first half, Korea jumped out to a 13-3 lead in the first six minutes of the game. The Australians then played Korea even over the next five minutes as Korea kept the 10-point lead at 23-13 with 9:41 remaining. Australia then went on a 13-2 run to take a 26-25 lead on Shelley SANDIE's jumper in the lane with 4:40 to play in the opening period. Korea came back to take a 37-34 lead at the half, but unfortunately for Korea that is where the bright spots ended in its first game of the 1996 Olympic Games. Australia opened the half with a 24-9 run and never looked back in posting the victory. Rachael SPORN (AUS) tallied 14 of her game-high 21 points in the second half to lead the Australians. Trisha FALLEN (AUS) also helped Australia's cause with 18 points in the game. Korea had four starters place in double-digit points, led by YOO Young-Joo's 16 points. Final Score: AUS 76, KOR 61.
Women's Basketball Preliminaries / Group A
ITA vs. CHN
Italy posts big upset in win over the People's Republic of China.
Italy, regarded as one of the most improved women's basketball teams in the 1996 Olympic Games, showed just how improved it is with a 62-53 win over gold medal hopeful People's Republic of China. Italy jumped out to an early 10-point lead in the first half, but China came back to record a 36-27 advantage at the half. It appeared as though China, the silver medal winning team in the 1992 Olympic Games, would hold on for the win as play progressed through the second half. But, the Italians had a different idea and refused to quit playing with the intensity that had given them the early first half lead. Italy ended the game with an 11-3 run over the final 6:21 to record the upset. Italy was led by Nicoletta CASELIN's 16 points, while China was paced by LI Xin and LIU Jun, who each tallied 15 points. Final Score: ITA 62, CHN 53.
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