(30 July 1996; Day 11)
In the beginning, there were 12 teams with the thoughts of an Olympic medal dangling around their necks. After five preliminary games for each of the 12 qualified countries for the 1996 Olympic women's basketball competition, those having hopes of a prestigious medal have been reduced to just eight squads.
On Wednesday, these eight teams will begin competition in the medal round. The United States faces Japan, Brazil meets Cuba, Ukraine squares off against Italy and the Russian Federation takes on Australia.
With 12 players on each of the eight teams, that means that beginning with Wednesday's medal round the life-long dreams of 96 athletes will be put on the line. Following is a break-down of each squad, featuring information on the players and how the team fared in the preliminary round.
GROUP A
# 1 SEED: BRAZIL. Brazil made things look rather easy in the preliminary round by recording a 5-0 record and winning its games by a margin of 12.8 points per game. Brazil is led by three players that rank among the top-10 scorers in this Olympic field. Leading the way for the Brazilians is small forward Janeth ARCAIN, who ranks fifth with 17.6 points per game. Center Marta De Sooza SOBRAL ranks sixth in scoring and rebounding, averaging 17.2 points and 8.0 rebounds per contest. Point guard Maria Paula SILVA ranks ninth in scoring, averaging 16.0 points per game.
# 2 SEED: RUSSIA. Russia posted a 4-1 record in the preliminary round to game the second seed behind Brazil. With four players 6'2" or taller, the Russians have used their size to advantage so far in the 1996 Olympic Games. Center Yelena BARANOVA, standing 6'3", uses both her height and quickness to lead the squad in scoring and rebounding. She ranks second in scoring in these Olympic Games with 18.4 points per game and first in rebounds, averaging 12.6 per contest. Point guard Yevgeniya NIKONOVA contributes 12.8 points per game.
# 3 SEED: ITALY. At the beginning of the preliminary round, Italy was considered to have an outside chance to reach the medal round. After upset victories over China and Canada to open their play in the 1996 Centennial Olympic Games, the Italians quickly changed the minds of the so-called experts. Italy completed the opening round with a 3-2 record and earned great respect for its come-from-behind efforts in each game. Truly one of the most team-oriented squads in the field, the Italians do not have a player who ranks in the top-20 of either the scoring or rebounding statistics. Forward Catarina POLLINI leads the team with a 10.6-point per game average.
# 4 SEED: JAPAN. Japan enters the medal round after posting a 2-3 record and grabbing the final spot out of Group A. For Japan to have any hope for a medal, small forward Mikiko HAGIWARA will have to continue to carry the squad. HAGIWARA ranks seventh in the Olympic Games in scoring, averaging 16.6 points per game. Japan's main problem has been on the defensive end, where it has allowed the second-most points of any team in the field.
GROUP B
# 1 SEED: UNITED STATES. While all eyes of the media in the United States were on the men's basketball team, the women's "Dream Team" from the USA has been impressing all in attendance. After assembling 12 of the finest women's basketball players in the world last year, the Team USA has posted a 57-0 record, including a 5-0 mark in the 1996 Olympic preliminary round. Center Lisa Leslie leads a very balanced attack with 14.0 points and 6.2 rebounds per game. The balanced attack has four members of the United States' squad averaging more than 12.8 points per game and the team blistering the nets for a 101.5-points per game average. The defense has been equally impressive by allowing just 67.8 points per contest. The defense was never more evident than in the final preliminary round game when the USA allowed Korea just 14 points in the second half of a 105-64 victory.
# 2 SEED: UKRAINE. The Ukraine posted a 3-2 record in the preliminary round and definitely played better as the round progressed. After an upset loss to Korea, which did not qualify for the medal round, the Ukraine defeated Australia and Cuba to earn the second seed in Group B. Marina TKACHENKO leads the Ukraine in scoring, posting an 18.0-point per game average. Center Lyudmila NAZARENKO ranks fourth in the 1996 Olympic Games in rebounding, averaging 8.6 per outing.
# 3 SEED: AUSTRALIA. Australia also posted a 3-2 record in the preliminary round to tie the Ukraine for the number two seed, but lost the spot due to a 54-48 loss to the Ukraine. The Australians proved that they are a force which must be met by giving the United States its toughest game of the opening round. Australia battled close for much of the game before losing 96-79. Guards Michele TIMMS and Shelley SANDIE lead Australia from the backcourt. TIMMS ranks eighth in scoring with 16.2 points per game, while SANDIE chips in 13.0 points per game. Center Rachael SPORN, who began the 1996 Olympic Games as a reserve, earned a starting role with her aggressive defense on opponents' taller players in the pivot. At 6'1", SPORN ranks third in rebounding, averaging 9.0 boards per game.
# 4 SEED: CUBA. Cuba earned the fourth spot in Group B with a 2-3 record and beat out Korea, also 2-3, for the medal round berth with a 70-55 victory over the Koreans. Yamilet MARTINEZ leads Cuba and is among the top players in the field. The 6'4" center leads the 1996 Olympic Games in scoring with a 19.4-point average and is second in rebounding, averaging 11.2 per contest. In addition to MARTINEZ, Cuba's Lisdeivis VICTORES (7.2 rpg) and Dalia HENRY (7.0 rpg) have helped the team become the second highest rebounding team in the 1996 Olympic Games.
This is an official publication of the Atlanta Committee for the Olympic Games Sports Publications Department. Written by Wayne White.
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| More tickets were sold to the competitions of the 1996 Games than to any other Olympic Games or sports event in history. The 8.6 million ticket sales figures topped sales to the Los Angeles and Barcelona Games combined. |