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Olympic Basketball Recaps: 31 July (Day 12)

Women's Basketball / Quarterfinals

UKR vs. ITA

It Wasn't Pretty, But Ukraine Advances to Semifinals

In a game that featured 29 turnovers and a combined shooting percentage of 37.5 percent, Ukraine advanced to the semifinals of the 1996 Olympic Games with a 59-50 victory over Italy. Ukraine will now meet Brazil in the semifinals, while Italy and Cuba will square off in the classification round.

With Italy ahead 14-10 with 10:46 remaining in the first half, Ukraine went on a 7-0 run to take a lead that it would never relinquish. Ukraine built an eight-point lead with 2:30 left on the clock, but Italy quickly closed the half with a 7-2 run to pull to within three points, 25-22, at the break. Ukraine gradually built the lead in the second half and were able to withstand a 10-0 Italian run for the win.

Lyudmila NAZARENKO led Ukraine with 16 points and Yelena ZHIRKO added 15 points and 15 rebounds. Catarina POLLINI led Italy with 13 points and 8 boards.

Final Score: UKR 59, ITA 50.


Women's Basketball / Quarterfinals

BRA vs. CUB

Brazil Coasts Into Semifinal Round by Crushing Cuba

Brazil opened the first half with a 22-7 run and continued to build throughout the contest for a 101-69 victory over Cuba. The win sends Brazil, the top seeded squad out of Group A, into a semifinal meeting with Ukraine. Cuba drops into the classification round and will play Italy.

Brazil used the strong inside play of Marta De Sooza SOBRAL and Alessandra OLIVEIRA to out rebound Cuba 41-35. The taller Brazilian players also confused Cuba on the defensive end as Brazil consistently made the Cuban players change their shots.

Maria Paula SILVA and Janeth ARCAIN led Brazil with 19 points each, while SOBRAL added 18 points. ARCAIN also pulled down 10 rebounds. Yamilet MARTINEZ led Cuba with 25 points and 9 boards.

Final Score: BRA 101, CUB 69.


Women's Basketball / Quarterfinals

USA vs. JPN

LESLIE Leads United States into Semifinals

The U.S. women's basketball team advanced to the semifinals of the 1996 Olympic Games with a 108-93 win over a scrappy Japanese squad. The United States led from the opening tip by jumping out to a 9-2 lead.

The advantage reached as many as 26 points in the second half and stood at 104-83 with just 3:23 remaining in the contest. Japan fought hard to the end and closed with a 10-4 run.

Lisa LESLIE led the United States and all scorers in the game with 35 points. Katrina McCLAIN added 18 points and 16 rebounds for the United States. Aki ICHIJO and Mikiko HAGIWARA scored 22 points each to lead Japan, while point guard Chikako MURAKAMI dished out 10 assists.

Final Score: USA 108, JPN 93.


Women's Basketball / Quarterfinals

RUS vs. AUS

Australia Edges Russia For Semifinal Berth

Australia sank 7 of 8 free throws in overtime to defeat Russia 74-70 and advanced to the semifinals of the 1996 Olympic Games. Australia will meet the United States in the semifinal round, while Russia falls into the classification round to play Japan.

With the game tied at 68-68, Australia's Jennifer WHITTLE converted a three-point play with 2:18 remaining to give the Aussies the lead for good. Russia closed the margin to within one point, 71-70, but could not overtake Australia as the shots from the charity stripe continued to fall.

The game opened with Russia jumping out to a 15-9 advantage before Australia's 6-0 run knotted the score at 15-15. The remainder of the first half was a close back-and-forth game as neither team could pull out to more than a five-point lead. Russia's starting point guard Irina SUMNIKOVA netted a 3-pointer with two seconds left in the opening half to tie the score at 38-38 at the break.

The second half saw Russia open two seven-point leads in the first eight minutes, but Australia came back each time to take the lead. With Russia ahead 62-61, Michelle BROGAN gave Australia a two-point advantage on a trifecta with 1:56 remaining in regulation. Yelena BARANOVA tied the score, 64-64, with just 18 ticks to go on a jump shot just inside the free throw line. Australian center Rachael SPORN had a chance to win the game in regulation, but her shot at the buzzer rolled around and off the front of the rim.

Yevgeniya NIKONOVA led Russia in scoring with 16 points, while BARANOVA added 13 points and 21 rebounds. Australia was led by BROGAN's 17 points and 8 rebounds.

Final Score: AUS 74, RUS 70 (ot).


Women's Basketball / Classification

CHN vs. ZAI

China's ZHENG Overpowers Zaire for Victory

China's imposing center, 6'9" ZHENG Haixia, scored a team-high 26 points to lead her squad to a 91-67 victory over Zaire in the classification round of the 1996 Olympic Games women's basketball competition.

China jumped out to a quick 20-4 lead in the first half and coasted the rest of the way to victory. ZHENG Dongmei and LIU Jun added 16 points each for China, while teammate HE Jun added 12 points. Zaire's Mabika MWADI connected for a game-high 30 points.

China will now play Korea for ninth place, while Zaire and Canada will meet in the 11th place game.

Final Score: CHN 91, ZAI 67.


Women's Basketball / Classification

KOR vs. CAN

"Never Say Die" Attitude Gives Korea Victory Over Canada

Korea trailed almost the entire game against Canada before a late run gave the Koreans an 88-79 victory. Trailing by as many as 10 points in the second half, Korea battled back to tie the game at 72-72 with 4:22 remaining. Korea then picked the right time to get hot as it outscored Canada 16-7 in the final minutes.

Canada opened the game with a 7-0 run and built its largest lead, 29-18, with 8:05 remaining in the first half. Korea, as it has the entire Olympic Games, came back with a 7-1 run in the opening half's final 1:25 to close the gap to 41-37 by the break. Korea took two very brief one-point leads at the beginning of the second half before Canada opened its double-digit lead.

CHUN Joo-Weon led Korea in its comeback victory with 31 points and 9 assists. JUNG Sun-Min of Korea added 22 points. Canada was led by Diane NORMAN's 17 points and 8 rebounds.

Korea will now play China for ninth place, while Canada will meet Zaire in the 11th place game.

Final Score: KOR 88, CAN 79.


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


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Olympic Factoid
The Mother Nature was kind to Olympic athletes and spectators. The average high temperature during the Games was 89 degrees with an average low of 72 degrees. Highest temperature registered (20 July) - 99 degrees. Lowest high temperature registered is 79 degrees (28 July).