For the first time since they got together about three weeks ago, the United States looked like the dominant team that hung the last six Olympic golds.
SAITAMA – Breanna Stewart scored 20 of his 23 points in the first half and United States beat Australia 79-55 on Wednesday in the quarterfinals of the Olympic tournament in Tokyo.
The Americans will be measured at Serbia on Friday with the goal of advancing to their seventh consecutive final. The Serbs, who won bronze in Rio 2016, they came from behind to impose on China 77-70 earlier in the day.
For the first time since they got together about three weeks ago, United States It looked like the dominant team that hung the last six Olympic golds and have 53 games without losing in about Games, a streak that started in Barcelona 1992.
“The elimination rounds bring out a certain intensity in the team and that was a very important factor,” he said. Sue bird. “It’s win or die right now. That helps. I think we have taken subtle steps in the right direction and have been improving. We are going in the right direction and increasingly comfortable ”.
During the group stage, the games of United States they started slowly, with the team always behind on the board after the first quarter. Stewart made sure that didn’t happen against Australia. With a 5-2 against, he scored seven points in a row to start a 19-1 run. The Americans finished the first quarter ahead 26-12, after Australia accumulated 10 turnovers.
“We wanted to go out and set the pace on both ends of the pitch,” he declared. Stewart. “So far we haven’t had a good start. These are the quarterfinals, it’s either win or go home. “
Australia was able to reduce the lead to nine points in the second before United States He will close the set with a 20-8 in favor to reach the break with a 48-27.
The “opals” did not pose a threat in the second half, when United States he walked away thanks to Brittney griner, who had 10 of his 15 goals in the third quarter.
Leilani mitchell it was the best of Australia with 14 points.
United States Y Australia They occupy the first and second places, respectively, of the world rankings and faces are often seen in the final stages of the Olympic tournament, but the Australians barely advanced to the quarterfinals after a resounding victory over Puerto Rico in the last game.
Australia has never beat United States in some Games: they fell in the final in 2000, 2004 and 2008, and in the semifinals in 1996 and 2012.