FIBA Basketball
USA - US defeat Mondeville
MONDEVILLE (FIBA World Championship for Women) - The United States women showed once again their embarrassment of riches by winning big over USO Mondeville on Monday. With just three practices under their belts and minus most of the players
MONDEVILLE (FIBA World Championship for Women) - The United States women showed once again their embarrassment of riches by winning big over USO Mondeville on Monday.
With just three practices under their belts and minus most of the players who will compete for the US at the FIBA World Championship for Women, Anne Donovan's team still rolled to an 87-66 victory.
Mondeville, behind a superlative effort from American Grace Daley, were level at 16-16 before the US delivered a knockout punch with a 13-0 run.
"We look young, we look inexperienced, we look new," said Donovan.
"We've played together for just three days and that's what it looked like to me."
Yet they still won by 21 points and the game was effectively over by the end of the third quarter.
That says a lot about the depth and talent in the US team because even with a new, young side, Mondeville - who are among the leading sides in France and competed in the EuroLeague Women this season - were second best.
Youngsters Michelle Snow of the Houston Comets and Kristin Haynie of the WNBA champions Sacramento Monarchs had 10 and nine point respectively.
Haynie, a 22-year-old who played collegiately at Michigan State, also weighed in with four assists and four steals in her first game for the USA.
Brazil may come too early for her but with more solid performances she could force her way into the reckoning.
"It felt good," Haynie said. "It's an honour and a blessing just to be invited to this.
"It's not anything different, you have to step out on the court and play your game, no matter what team you're playing for."
USA veteran Katie Smith, who had 17 points, hailed the newcomer.
"Kristin was really solid," she said. "I was really impressed with her."
Minnesota Lynx center Nicole Ohlde played in her fourth game with the US this month and had 18 points.
"We had some spectacular plays from our Olympians, Katie Smith and Sheryl Swoopes," Donovan said.
"That kind of veteran play will have to help us on this trip as we don't have a lot of time to practice. It's just a matter of getting into games and being ready to compete."
Team USA play a Hungary All-Star team on Wednesday in Gyor and then, on Friday, travel to Pecs to face MiZo Pecs - the only side to beat two-time defending FIBA Women's World League champions BC Volgaburmash.
The USA will take on Russia, Nigeria and China in Group D at the FIBA World Championship for Women.
PA Sport
With just three practices under their belts and minus most of the players who will compete for the US at the FIBA World Championship for Women, Anne Donovan's team still rolled to an 87-66 victory.
Mondeville, behind a superlative effort from American Grace Daley, were level at 16-16 before the US delivered a knockout punch with a 13-0 run.
"We look young, we look inexperienced, we look new," said Donovan.
"We've played together for just three days and that's what it looked like to me."
Yet they still won by 21 points and the game was effectively over by the end of the third quarter.
That says a lot about the depth and talent in the US team because even with a new, young side, Mondeville - who are among the leading sides in France and competed in the EuroLeague Women this season - were second best.
Youngsters Michelle Snow of the Houston Comets and Kristin Haynie of the WNBA champions Sacramento Monarchs had 10 and nine point respectively.
Haynie, a 22-year-old who played collegiately at Michigan State, also weighed in with four assists and four steals in her first game for the USA.
Brazil may come too early for her but with more solid performances she could force her way into the reckoning.
"It felt good," Haynie said. "It's an honour and a blessing just to be invited to this.
"It's not anything different, you have to step out on the court and play your game, no matter what team you're playing for."
USA veteran Katie Smith, who had 17 points, hailed the newcomer.
"Kristin was really solid," she said. "I was really impressed with her."
Minnesota Lynx center Nicole Ohlde played in her fourth game with the US this month and had 18 points.
"We had some spectacular plays from our Olympians, Katie Smith and Sheryl Swoopes," Donovan said.
"That kind of veteran play will have to help us on this trip as we don't have a lot of time to practice. It's just a matter of getting into games and being ready to compete."
Team USA play a Hungary All-Star team on Wednesday in Gyor and then, on Friday, travel to Pecs to face MiZo Pecs - the only side to beat two-time defending FIBA Women's World League champions BC Volgaburmash.
The USA will take on Russia, Nigeria and China in Group D at the FIBA World Championship for Women.
PA Sport