United States of America women roll on with 81-51 win over Canada in basketball

Maya Moore scored 12 points and the US clinched the top seed in the group with an 81-51 win over its northern neighbors.

Looking for their 45th straight Olympic victory, the U.S. Women’s National Team takes on their neighbors to the north today in Rio.

Through four games, the US has outscored their opponents by an average of 40.25 points per game.

Getting the Americans pushing back underneath the rims created the expected result, and as the USA evened out the rebounding edge, Canada struggled to end possessions on either side of the ball. “We didn’t make a shot … we talked about that, needing other people to step up and make some shots … and we did”.

Tamara Tatham’s 3-pointer brought Team Canada to within 12, but back-to-back threes by Taurasi and a Brittney Griner hoop pushed the Americans’ lead to 20 at 47-27. The USA led by 14 points at halftime and by 24 after three quarters. Canada’s early rebounding edge was even more important in retrospect once it disappeared, as the States’ primary source of offense was pushing off of misses and turnovers (and again, the Canadians’ defense once set in the half-court was terrific).

However, Team USA got all it could handle and then some from an Australian team that was ready to take full advantage of the physical style that the FIBA rules allow for.

“They are a disciplined team with what they are trying to do on offense”, Moore said, according to USA Basketball.

Team Canada managed only one second-quarter field goal – a three-point play by Nirra Fields with 39.4 seconds left in the period. She scored just three points, missing eight of her nine shots. Miranda Ayim of London, Ont., scored eight to lead the Canadians.

While the US roster is stacked with some of the greatest players in UConn’s storied history, including Moore, Canada has its own Husky in Hamilton’s Nurse, who will begin her junior year at CT this fall.

The USA women’s basketball team dominated Serbia on Wednesday, pulling out a 110-84 victory. Do you think they’ll be able to win a medal?

But Rhode was the center of attention as she wrapped up a record that started with her double trap gold medal as a precocious 17-year-old kid at the 1996 Atlanta Games.

Gaucher labeled Friday’s exercise “a great game to practice” as Canada faces a pivotal contest Sunday vs. Spain.