OLYW - Whalen, Augustus help propel USA into Final

LONDON (Olympics) – USA Basketball has strong links to the University of Connecticut, with Huskies boss Geno Auriemma the women’s national team coach and many of his former stars key players in the American squad.

The defending champions also have strong links to the state of Minnesota.

Three of the USA players – Lindsay Whalen, Seimone Augustus and Maya Moore - celebrated a WNBA title last year with the Minnesota Lynx.

One of them, Whalen, hails from Hutchinson and played for the University of Minnesota.

The Golden Gopher ignited a game-winning run against Australia.

The game hung in the balance when the United States, down one point late in the third quarter, lost star guard Diana Taurasi to a fourth foul.

Auriemma inserted Whalen into the game and she scored six of the most important points of her career all in a row to help put her side in front for good.

They won the Semi-Final, 86-73.

Whalen seized with both hands the opportunity to have an important place in American women’s basketball history.

“I was just thinking if the shot was there, take it,” Whalen said.

“Be aggressive. Maybe in the first half, I was a little passive.”

The victory was a 40th straight at Olympic Games for the USA women.

Their last loss came in the Semi-Finals of the Barcelona Games 20 years ago.

The rich tradition of women’s basketball in America, Augustus says, is something she and her teammates are all aware of.

“We think about it,” she said.

“We know the history.

“I had an opportunity to play with Lisa Leslie, Tina Thompson and all those players.

“They paved the way for us.

“It’s just a joy and an honor to be in this position, to hopefully keep the legacy going for USA Basketball.”

The winning streak was in danger on Thursday because Australia had ridden the back of center Elizabeth Cambage and her 19 first-half points to good effect.

When the teams returned for the third quarter, the Americans made sure the youngster would not beat them.

She didn’t score another point for the rest of the game.

“They were punishing us on the inside and being more physical than we expected,” Augustus said.

“In the second half, we took it personal.

“We went out there to prove a point that we can defend her and prove that we can be a little more physical than they were.”

Augustus was the MVP of last years’ WNBA Finals with Minnesota but Whalen, Moore and Rebekkah Brunson, who made the preliminary squad, were every bit as important.

Whalen doesn’t play to the fanfare of many of her USA teammates, but Augustus said: “It’s always a joy to play with Lindsay.

“We have that body language, that eye contact where it’s time to turn it on.

“It just happens. It just clicks.

“Today was a prime example of how we click together in that second-half run.”

Whalen only made her debut with the national side at the 2010 FIBA World Championship, helping the Americans capture a gold medal.

“Playing overseas for a bunch of years now, playing in the World Championship, just having that experience all of overseas – it’s really paid off for all of us,” Whalen said.

Augustus and Whalen played in pressure-packed WNBA Finals and in the big European competitions with various clubs.

Now it’s the Olympics.

“This is way more intense,” Augustus said.

“The whole world is watching.

“You’ve got the people back home watching, everyone in the other countries watching, rooting against us and wanting us to lose.

“It makes for a more competitive game, more fun to be here.”

FIBA