SEN – Traore, Senegal try not to lose heart

OSTRAVA (2010 FIBA World Championship for Women) - Senegal have been thrashed in their opening two games at the FIBA World Championship for Women by France and the United States.

There is no way to sugarcoat it.

And a third whipping in Group B could be on the way on Saturday when Moustapha Gaye's team takes on Greece.

Being the champions of Africa has not translated into being competitive on the world stage.

If anything, Senegal look out of their depth.

The players work hard.

They are athletic.

But they are also completely overmatched.

In the game against the United States, which the Americans won 108-52, Senegal trailed 30-11 by the end of the first quarter.

Midway through the second and the lead had ballooned to 44-19.

Senegal continued to compete, to fight for loose balls.

“We just try to go hard,” Senegal’s Aya Traore said.

“It doesn't matter if you lose by 100 or 1 - you play hard until the end.”

Traore is one of her national team’s best-known players, one that will play in Spain's Liga Femenina next season at Olesa Espanyol near Barcelona.

After her side's heavy defeat to the United States on Friday, Traore spoke to FIBA.com.

Aya, African teams have always struggled at FIBA World Championships for Women. Can you see them ever closing the gap and being competitive in these tournaments?

Traore: "Maybe. I think there is a lot of work to do, getting bigger players, the talent and player development is the thing to do. Yes, I think it's possible but there is a lot of work to do.

How should the players develop? Should Senegal try to keep the players at home, send them to Europe or the United States?

Traore: A lot of the players on our team play basketball overseas, in France, Spain and they play in top divisions, too. I think one of the main focuses has to be to play together as much as possible and be disciplined on the court. That's one of the things we are lacking. I think the more that we play, the more comfortable we get with each other and hopefully we'll get better.

What do you learn from watching the United States play when you are the opponent?

Traore: "You just learn they don't try to focus on one player, but to play as a team - working to get open shots, passing to the next person. You get a lot of experience playing against a team like that. Everyone can learn from them to get better.

Next year, you're going to play in what should be an incredible FIBA Africa Championship in Mali. Can you look ahead to that event?

Traore: "It should be. We're looking forward to that. Mali are one of our biggest rivals. They won it in 2007 and we beat them last year in 2010 to win the Championship. I think it's going to be a lot of fun."

FIBA