ROANOKE TIMES
Copyright (c) 1996, Roanoke Times
DATE: Sunday, July 28, 1996 TAG: 9607300068
SECTION: SPORTS PAGE: C-4 EDITION: METRO
DATELINE: ATLANTA
SOURCE: Associated Press
THE U.S. TEAM responds to its first challenge in women's basketball with a 96-79 victory over Australia.
Challenged for the first time in the Olympics, the U.S. women's basketball team looked to its veterans for help. As they had so many times before, Katrina McClain and Teresa Edwards answered.
The former University of Georgia teammates led the way as the United States turned back Australia 96-79 on Saturday night to clinch first place in its preliminary pool.
McClain, playing in her third Olympics, scored 16 of her 24 points in the second half. Edwards, a four-time Olympian, came through with 20 points, 15 assists and seven rebounds. She was 7-for-8 from the field and McClain was 12-for-14.
Sheryl Swoopes added 17 points for the Americans and Lisa Leslie scored 16.
A Georgia Dome crowd of 33,952, another record for women's basketball, saw the U.S. team wear down the Australians with its size, quickness and, most notably, its depth.
Other than increased security, there were no signs of tension from the explosion at nearby Olympic Centennial Park. The crowd was lively and rock music blared during timeouts.
The United States had beaten Australia three times during its 52-0 exhibition tour, but none of the three games was a rout. Neither was Saturday's contest.
The Australians led by six points in the first half and trailed by three at halftime. They continued to keep it close for a while in the second as Michelle Timms hit three consecutive 3-pointers and a layup, cutting it to 60-58 with 15:56 left. Timms finished with 26 points.
Then, the U.S. team kicked into high gear.
Swoopes hit a 3-pointer and two free throws to start a 16-4 run that stretched the lead to 76-62 with 10:15 remaining, and the Americans were in control the rest of the way.
The Australians stayed with the taller Americans on the boards and got themselves open for good shots with sharp passes and crisp cuts.
An 8-0 run in a span of 1:10 gave Australia a 31-25 lead before 6-foot-4 Venus Lacy came off the bench to add some muscle inside and get the Americans going.
Lacy scored eight points and Edwards fed Ruthie Bolton for a layup and made two baskets of her own to help the United States grab a 39-37 lead. Edwards got her second basket on a layup after a nifty hesitation dribble at the free-throw line. The United States got the final five points of the half to go up 46-43.
LENGTH: Medium: 60 linesby CNB