USA cruise past Canada to clinch Group B top spot

RIO DE JANEIRO (Rio 2016 Olympic Games) - The USA ensured they will finish as Group B winners after rolling to a 81-51 win over Canada on Friday.

The five-time reigning Olympic champions improved to 4-0, while Canada dropped to 3-1.

The teams were evenly matched in the opening quarter, with the Americans holding an 18-16 edge.

Canada struggled to get anything going offensively in the second. Meanwhile, Maya Moore scored 8 points in the period, including a lay-up that pushed the USA's advantage to 30-19 with 2:10 to go in the half and it was a 36-22 game as the teams headed to the locker rooms.   

Canada got a semblance of their offense going after the break but the USA were too firmly in control and ran away comfortable winners. 

Turning Point: Canada's second quarter was one to forget. They were 1-of-10 from the field and turned the ball over 9 times. Their only basket came when Nirra Fields made a lay-up with 39 seconds left in the period as part of a three-point play that cut the deficit to 33-22. Diana Taurasi then hit a three-pointer for the halftime score. 

Stats Don't Lie: The USA shot 18-of-37 (49 percent) from two-point range, while Canada were just 11-of-31 (35 percent). No Canada player scored in double figures.

Hero: Moore's scoring outburst in the second quarter enabled the USA to pull away for good. She finished with 12 points, 5 rebounds, 2 assists and 2 steals. 

The Bottom Line: If Spain beat Senegal in Thursday's last game, then Canada will face them on Sunday in a clash that will determine who finishes second in the group behind the USA.

FIBA