USA use total team effort in defeat of Senegal

RIO DE JANEIRO (Rio 2016 Olympic Games) - The USA ran away with a 121-56 win over Senegal on Sunday to get their bid for a sixth consecutive Olympic gold medal off to the best possible start.

Turning Point: Diana Taurasi hit a trifecta of three-pointers inside the first 3:03 of the game to give the Americans their first double-digit lead, 12-2. That essentially set the tone for what was to come the rest of the way.

Stats Don't Lie: With 121 points, the USA tied Japan for the third highest scoring output by a team in the history of the Women's Olympic Basketball Tournament. Only Brazil (128 points against Japan in 2004) and the Soviet Union (122 points against Bulgaria in 1980) have scored more in a game. The Japanese scored 121 points against Canada in 1976.

Game Hero: After setting up her team-mates through the first three quarters and collecting 8 assists in the process, Sue Bird hit a three-pointer early in the final frame, which meant that every USA player got on the score sheet. Taurasi, Sylvia Fowles and Breanna Stewart had 15 points each to lead a group of 7 players that finished in double digits. 

The Bottom Line: African champions Senegal will be glad to have got this game out of the way and to focus on their five remaining Group B games, starting with China. As for the USA, they next face Spain. Both games will be played on Monday.  

FIBA