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Olympic Basketball Recaps: 29 July (Day 10)

Women's Basketball Preliminaries / Group A

CAN vs. JPN

Japan Earns Spot in Medal Round With Overtime Victory

Needing a victory to advance as the number four seed from Group A into the Olympic medal round, Japan battled from behind to defeat Canada 95-85 in overtime. Mikiko HAGIWARA (JPN) scored 7 points in the extra frame as Japan outscored Canada 15-7 for the win.

Japan jumped out to an early lead in the first half to take a 12-6 lead with 15:02 remaining in the first half. Canada battled back to take a 15-14 lead just 5 minutes later and held the lead for the remainder of the first half.

In the second half, Canada built its lead to 11 points at 68-57 with 8:30 remaining on the clock. With their medal round hopes in jeopardy, the Japanese squad came storming back with a 13-2 run to tie the game at 70-70 with just 4:08 left in regulation. With 1:05 to go and Canada ahead 76-73, HAGIWARA (JPN) drained a long 3-point field goal to tie the game and set up the extra session.

HAGIWARA (JPN) led Japan with 26 points, while Chikako MURAKAMI (JPN) added 20 points and 5 rebounds. Canada's Martina JERANT led her squad with 15 points and Diane NORMAN added 13 points and 10 rebounds.

Final Score: JPN 95, CAN 85 (overtime).


CUB vs. ZAI

Cuba Joins Medal Searchers With Win Over Zaire

With its 73-59 victory over Zaire, Cuba earned the chance to search for the gold medal by qualifying for the fourth spot out of Group B. Cuba raised its record to 2-3 to tie Korea for the fourth and final spot; but, a 70-55 victory by Cuba over Korea earlier in the 1996 Olympic Games was the determining factor in its advancing to the medal round.

With the score tied at 36-36 at the half, Cuba opened the second period with a 20-2 run that sealed the victory. Zaire battled back to within 8 points at 65-57, but there was only 1:39 remaining on the clock. Cuba closed the game with an 8-2 run to hold off Zaire.

Maria LEON led Cuba with 20 points and Yamilet MARTINEZ chipped in 18 points and pulled down 12 boards. Zaire's Mabika MWADI led all scorers with 27 points.

Final Score: CUB 73, ZAI 59.


Women's Basketball Preliminaries / Group B

KOR vs. USA

"D" is Key in Keeping United States Undefeated

While the United States' women's basketball team again scored more than 100 points in a game, it was the squad's defense that led to a 105-64 beating of Korea. Many fans were stunned in the Georgia Dome when the heavily favored USA team led Korea by just a 10-point margin (60-50) at halftime.

After some magic words by head coach Tara VanDERVEER in the locker room, the United States came out 17-2 run over the first 8 minutes of the second half to blow the game wide open. Korea managed just 14 points in the second period as a stingy USA man-to-man defense forced 12 second-half Korean turnovers. Korea, which blazed the nets for a 59 percent field goal percentage in the first half, connected on only 4-of-35 shots in the second half for an 11.4 success rate.

Nikki MCCRAY came off of the bench to lead the United States with 16 points and nine rebounds. JUNG Sun-Min led Korea with 17 points and six rebounds.

Final Score: USA 105, KOR 64.


Women's Basketball Preliminaries / Group A

ITA vs. BRA

Brazil Remains Undefeated With ARCAIN's Heroics

In what can easily be called the best women's basketball game of the preliminary round at the 1996 Olympic Games, Brazil's Janeth ARCAIN connected on a running jump shot with 3.2 seconds remaining for a 75-73 victory over Italy. The win raised Brazil's record to 5-0, while Italy fell to 3-2 in Group A. Both teams begin medal round competition Wednesday.

ARCAIN received the ball at the top of the key with about 8 seconds remaining and looked to pass inside to center Alessandra OLIVEIRA. With OLIVEIRA heavily covered by two Italian players, ARCAIN drove to her right and put the shot up just inside the free throw line.

Other than the first few minutes of the first half, the game was extremely close. Brazil appeared to be ready to run away with the contest as it opened with a 12-2 run in the first 4 minutes. Italy immediately fought back, like it has the entire Olympic Games, with a 12- 2 run of its own to knot the game at 14-14 with 12:18 remaining in the first half. The lead changed several times through the remainder of the opening period and Brazil pulled out a 38-37 lead at the break.

In the second half, Italy went on a 12-5 run to take a 7-point advantage with 8:42 remaining in regulation. Brazil immediately scored nine unanswered points to retake the lead from Italy. Nicoletta CASELIN (ITA) made a nice move around two Brazilian defenders for a lay-up with just 19 seconds left to play to tie the score at 73-73 and set the setting for ARCAIN's heroics.

ARCAIN led all scorers with 17 points, while teammates Maria Paula SILVA and Marta De Sooza SOBRAL added 15 and 12 points, respectively. Susanna BONFIGLIO led Italy with 15 points.

Final Score: BRA 75, ITA 73.


Women's Basketball Preliminaries / Group B

UKR vs. AUS

Ukraine Pulls Out Victory Over Australia in Final Preliminary Game

In the final preliminary round game in Group B for both squads, Ukraine scored a 54-48 victory over Australia in a thriller. The game swung back and forth through much of the game as neither team could jump out to a comfortable lead. With 3:30 remaining in the game and the score tied at 46-46, Ukraine outscored the Australians 8-2 the rest of the way to pull out the victory. In the final minutes, Ukraine's defense strengthened to force two turnovers and several bad shots by Australia.

Oksana DOVGALYUK led Ukraine with 15 points, while teammates Lyudmila NAZARENKO and Marina TKACHENKO added 13 and 10 points, respectively. Australia was led by Michele TIMMS' 13 points and Shelley SANDIE's 10 points and 9 rebounds.

Final Score: UKR 54, AUS 48.


Women's Basketball Preliminaries / Group B

RUS vs. CHN

Strong Second Half Leads Russia to Big Victory

The Russian Federation used a strong second half surge to turn a close game into a big 94-78 victory over China in Group B preliminary action at the 1996 Olympic Games. Russia, leading 44-43 at halftime, opened the second half with a 16-8 run to take a 60-51 advantage with 15:19 remaining in the contest. China could get no closer than five points the rest of the way as Russia continued to build its lead.

Yelena BARANOVA of Russia posted one of the top individual performances of the 1996 Olympic Games with 26 points and 18 rebounds. MA Zongqing and ZHENG Dongmei led six Chinese players in double-figures with 14 points each.

Final Score: RUS 94, CHN 78.


This is an official publication of the Atlanta Committee for the Olympic Games Sports Publications Department.


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An estimated 5.3 million visted Centennial Olympic Park between opening day - 13 July - and closing day - 4 August, making the park the most single most visited Olympic site during the Games.