AUS vs. UKR
Australia Goes Wire-To-Wire For the Bronze
Australia grabbed the lead at the opening gun and never looked back to defeat Ukraine, 66-56, and capture the bronze at the Georgia Dome on Sunday evening. It was Australia’s first Olympic medal and highest world-championship finish in women’s basketball history.
The game was close throughout the first half, with Australia holding a 33-24 advantage at the break behind the play of pivot Michelle BROGAN’s 10 points. Australia featured an inside attack that was successful throughout the period, with Ukraine countering from the outside. Ukraine’s top first-half performer was pivot Lyudmila NAZARENKO with eight points and four rebounds.
In the second half, Ukraine was able to close within three points as late as 12:08 remaining in the half, but could get no closer as Australia went on a 12-3 run. Ukraine continued to bomb away from behind the three-point arc with limited success, while the Australian’s smallest player, point guard Michele TIMMS, spark plugged her team by distributing the ball to slashing cutters and open shooters.
BROGAN finished as the game’s high scorer with 19 points and 12 rebounds, while TIMMS added four steals and four assists. Although outshot and outrebounded, Australia held onto the ball, committing only 12 turnovers and causing 10 steals. Forward Yelena ZHIRKO led Ukraine with 16 points and nine boards.
Final Score: AUS 66, UKR 56.
"Winning is more than just the moment. It is the self-satisfaction over a long period of time," said Australian head coach Thomas MAHER. "A lot of people have a piece of this and it has finally come about. Right now, I am just looking forward to some Australian wine and a good meal."
USA vs. BRA
Americans Redeem World Championship Loss With Olympic Gold
For the final time in Atlanta, the American flag was raised and the "Star Spangled Banner" played. On Sunday night, the final competition in the Games of the XXVI Olympiad concluded with the United States’ women’s basketball team being awarded the gold medal after defeating Brazil, 111-87, reversing its fortunes against the team that beat them at the 1994 World Championships.
A raucous near sell-out crowd of 32,997 witnessed the U.S. victory in a matchup of the only two undefeated teams left in Olympic play, a contest in which the U.S. scored the most points in history in an Olympic women’s gold medal game. The Americans last won women’s basketball gold in 1988.
As the U.S. realized its goal, the team could hardly contain its excitement. After the final horn sounded, the Americans took a victory lap around the court to the music of Kool and the Gang’s "Celebration" as the crowd clapped along in unison.
The reigning world champion Brazilians stayed with the U.S. throughout much of the first part of the contest, but the Americans broke open the game with their up-tempo play and climbed to a 57-46 halftime lead, largely on the strength of guard Teresa EDWARDS and her nine points, eight assists, and four rebounds. The team’s high scorer at the break, pivot Lisa LESLIE, added 15 points.
A high-scoring first half featured outstanding shooting, as both the U.S. (72.0) and Brazil (51.42) posted incredible field goal percentages, while Brazil claimed a four-rebound lead at 17-13. Brazil went against its traditional strength of shooting from the outside, where they led the Olympic tournament in three-point field goal percentage, and tried to both drive the lane and force the ball inside. Pivot Marta De Sooza SOBRAL led Brazil with 11 points at the intermission.
In the second stanza, the U.S. continued to push the pace and extended its lead quickly to 19. Compounding the Brazilian’s woes was the American defense which held them to only 12 points in the first 12 minutes of the second half. After being outscored in the second half, 54-41, the Brazilians attempted to slow down the Americans by fouling with five minutes remaining in the contest.
The U.S. crossed the century mark when guard Dawn STALEY hit the first of two free throws. With 1:07 remaining, guard Jennifer AZZI became the last American to score, when she also hit the first of two free throws to give the U.S. a 109-81 lead.
A phenomenal effort was turned in by LESLIE, who finished the game with 29 points on 12-of-14 shooting along with six rebounds. Guard Ruthie BOLTON added 15 points, five assists, five steals, and five rebounds. The Americans finished the game shooting 66 percent from the field and 50 percent from behind the three-point stripe.
Atop the scoring list for Brazil was forward Janeth ARCAIN with 24 points. The team’s top point producer during the tournament, guard Maria Paula SILVA was held in check by BOLTON and had seven points and 10 assists.
Final Score: USA 111, BRA 87.
"I’m very proud of our team’s success," said U.S. head coach Tara VANDERVEER on her squad’s undefeated record since the team was formed last year. "I looked at it (taking the job as the American team’s head coach) as a challenge. It’s great to go 60-0, but there’s a lot more to it...Today we were the best team in the world."
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| A record number of countries -- 74 -- earned medals during the 1996 Olympic Games. The countries that made their first appearance in the medal columns in 1996 included: Ukraine, Czech Republic, Kazakstan, Belarus, Slovakia, Armenia, Burundi, Ecuador, Hong Kong, Republic of Moldova, Uzbekistan, Azerbaijan, Tonga, Georgia and Mozambique. |