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U.S. women advance to World finals Posted: Tuesday September 24, 2002 2:55 PMNANJING, China, Sept 24 (Reuters) -- The United States beat Australia 71-56 in the semi-finals of the women's basketball world championship on Tuesday to set up a final against Russia, who came away 70-53 winners over South Korea. It has been a year of upsets for South Korean athletics, most notably in the soccer World Cup finals, but there was to be no fairytale ending for their women's basketball team at the Wutaishan gymnasium in the eastern city of Nanjing. With ten steals, five fast-breaks, and 40 minutes of full court press, the Koreans came within eight points of the Russians during the fourth quarter. But in the end, Russian power forward Elena Baranova, with 22 points, proved lethal both from in the paint (16) and behind the arc (6). "I think if number eight (Baranova) was not playing, we would have won the game," Korean coach Moon-kyu Lee said. The Women's National Basketball Association (WNBA) all-star and 1998 tournament most valuable player (MVP) also had four steals, five assists, and twelve rebounds. Russia coach Vadim Kapranov attributed his teams success to their superiority in rebounds, where the taller Russians claimed 36 to the Koreans 22. Smashing a tournament record, two-time WNBA MVP Lisa Leslie also led the United States to victory against Australia with 24 points and 11 rebounds. Australia, 1998 bronze medallists, suffered from injuries and foul trouble. Top players Lauren Jackson and Penny Taylor racked up three personal fouls early on and were benched for most of the second and third quarters. The undefeated Americans (9-0) now face Russia in Wednesday's final. Both teams boast six FIBA gold medals. Russia will be looking to avenge its narrow six-point loss in the 1998 finals and their 89-55 defeat earlier in this tournament.
Copyright 2003 Reuters Limited. All rights reserved. |
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