USA/ESP – Americans blow out Spain in second half

BEIJING (Olympics) – Spain played as if an upset might be on the cards in the second quarter but in the end, they were just upset after a 93-55 defeat to three-time defending Olympic champions the United States.

Tina Thompson, who has been one the USA’s most influential players at the Beijing Games, led the way with 17 points.

Spain trailed 39-34 at half-time but with the Americans returning to the floor far more focused on defense, they held the Europeans to just 21 points the rest of the way including eight in a dismal third quarter when Anne Donovan’s team took command.

The Spanish went the first two minutes and 19 seconds of the quarter without a basket and trailed 41-34 when they went off the rails on a controversial call that damaged their chances, and the contest.

After the second of two missed free throws by American point guard Sue Bird, Thompson grabbed the offensive rebound and attempted to score but was blocked by Anna Montanana.

A foul was called on Montanana and shortly after, the power forward was hit with a technical when she made a comment to the referee.

The decision meant that the Americans had a potential seven-point trip down the floor because they also would also retain possession after the four free throws.

They settled for five.

Thompson made three of four at the stripe and Lisa Leslie scored inside for a 46-34 advantage.

Montanana turned the ball over and Thompson scored again, before Elisa Aguilar also lost possession.

"I told the referee that I had raised my arm and that was it, I got a technical,” Montanana said to FIBA.com.

“I don't know if he was wound up from a previous play or what but clearly the barometer is different for people.

“The foul, the technical and then two turnovers, just brought us crashing down.

“I think we played really well in the first half, we played our game, we made Team USA play uncomfortably but against them you need to play for 40 minutes and we could only manage 20.”

Donovan was glad that her team had finally been tested, at least for 25 minutes.

"When they attacked us early and went on that big run at the end of the first quarter, we knew we were in for a game,” Donovan said.

“Spain traditionally fights very hard and once they got on a roll, they ride that emotion and they did that throughout the first half.

“We regrouped at half-time and came back in the second half and we talked about defensive adjustments and getting back to what we are good at, team defense.

“For us this is a good game, this is what we want to have hopefully before we advance.”

Spain coach Evaristo Perez made no excuses.

"We have seen two halves to this game to Spain,” he said. “I was very satisfied with our first half, despite the initial minutes.”

The USA had reeled off 15 straight points for a 19-4 advantage before Spain came back.

“But we competed and when we do that, our game is a solid one. In the second half, we stopped competing and my team was weak,” Perez added.

“The numbers say everything. The potential of interior play of the American team hurt us and we haven't been able to cope with the physical rhythm of the game."

Even if the contentious technical and five-point swing had not occurred, Montanana admitted it would have been very hard.

“It's difficult to stop them for 40 minutes,” she said.

“Nevertheless, I believe that Australia will make life difficult for Team USA because even good players have bad days.

“The positives we take from this game are that we can compete, that we must continue to battle and get better.

“We knew this game was going to be tough and we just have to look forward to our next game against Mali.”

The Americans, who also got 14 points and 11 rebounds from Lisa Leslie, won for the fourth time and lead Group B while Spain dropped to 2-2.

“Now it's highly unlikely we will finish second,” Montanana added. “We will have to settle for the third position in the group."

And that means a quarter-final against the loser of Russia’s game with Australia.

FIBA