Team USA cruise past Spain to win sixth consecutive women's Olympic basketball gold medal
The dominant USA women's basketball team retains Olympic title in impressive fashion, routing Spain 101-72
Gold medallists Team USA strike poses during medal ceremony after the women's basketball competition. (Photo: Getty Images/ Tom Pennington)
USA won their sixth consecutive Olympic gold medal in women's basketball with a comprehensive 101-72 victory over Spain at Carioca Arena on Saturday (20 August).
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Having defeated Spain by 40 points in the preliminary round, USA were strong favourites coming into the gold medal match and did not disappoint, taking control of the game in the second quarter and not letting Spain back in.
Humble heroes: USA women retain the common touch
USA out-shot Spain 59-40 per cent from the field, out-rebounded them 51-28, and shot 9/15 from three-point range to underline their dominance.
"It's not about one person, one coach, it's about, 'How can we make this the best basketball team ever?'" said Diana Taurasi, who scored 17 points as one of five USA players in double figures.
Diana Taurasi #12 of United States makes a no look pass during the Women's Gold Medal Game between United States and Spain. (Photo: Getty Images/ Tom Pennington)
Spain was able to stay close in the first quarter and trailed by only four points (21-17) at quarter-time. As has been shown throughout the tournament, however, staying with USA for a quarter or even a half is one thing, but doing it for the entire 40 minutes has been impossible.
USA stepped up their defensive intensity and shooting percentage in the second quarter to build a 17-point lead at half-time, by which time the game was virtually over.
Basketball schedule and results - Rio 2016
Earlier, Serbia used a third-quarter shooting barrage to overwhelm France 70-63 to claim the women's basketball bronze medal at the Carioca Arena.
In a rematch of last year's EuroBasket final, also won by Serbia, a tense, back-and-forth game was emerging midway through the third quarter until Serbia blew it open with a 16-0 run that turned a three-point deficit into an unassailable 13-point lead.
Just like the Serbia men's team, who play USA for gold on Sunday, the Serbian women will take home a medal from their first Olympic Games participation as an independent National Olympic Committee.
"We showed that when it is the hardest we are the strongest," said star guard Ana Dabovic, who scored 11 points. She was one of four Serbian players in double figures, led by forward Jelena Milovanovic's 18 points.
