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The new Dream Team U.S. women defeat Australia 76-54 for gold medal
SYDNEY, Australia (AP) -- The United States overwhelmed Australia and its boisterous home crowd 76-54 Saturday to win the gold in women's basketball and cap a perfect Olympics. The United States did it with cornerstones - strong inside play, quickness and depth - and reaffirmed its position as the world's best in the sport. U.S. teams won the gold medal at the Atlanta Olympics in 1996 and in the 1998 World Championship before this success in Sydney, going 25-0 in those games. The latest victory came against an inspired Australian team energized by loud fans waving flags and signs. But in the end, it was the small band of U.S. fans, led by Alonzo Mourning and several other members of the American men's team, who were cheering as the players celebrated on the floor. "We played hard, we played great," U.S. center Lisa Leslie said. "We knew we could do it, but it's still an amazing feeling to do it on someone else's homecourt."
Australia, its silver medal the nation's highest finish ever in women's basketball, had won its first seven games in Sydney with outstanding defense and sharp teamwork. But the team known affectionately to its fans as the Opals could not match the Americans' talent. Lisa Leslie was too quick for the Australian post players, Natalie Williams and Yolanda Griffith too strong. Sheryl Swoopes scored almost anytime she felt like it. And the U.S. depth was overwhelming. Australia just couldn't keep up. "They have so many bigs. It's not just Natalie,' Australia's Sandy Brondello said. "I'm disappointed. I didn't knock down the shots I usually do and I got those open shots." As men's star Vince Carter watched while wearing an American flag, the United States turned it on early. The U.S. team built a 15-point lead and was up by 13 at halftime. The crowd not only was getting quiet but restless. "We had to do that," American Teresa Edwards said. "We were on their floor, we were on a foreign court. We had to go at them and hope the game went our way." Australia got its fans back into the game with a 8-0 run early in the second, pulling to 45-38 on a 3-pointer by Kristi Harrower with 17:33 left. It was still close, 53-45, when Williams had five points and an assist in a 7-0 run that restored the lead to 15. It was 60-45 with 10:54, and the Australians had fired teir last shot. They were never closer than 13 after that and the final margin matched the United United States led by as many as 22. When the United States called time with 52.9 seconds left, the players began hugging and exchanging high fives. Leslie and Williams led the led the United States with 15 points each. Swoopes scored 14 and Griffith added 13. Australia got a strong game from its 19-year-old center, Lauren Jackson, who scored 20 points and blocked two of Leslie's shots. But she had no help. Sandy Brondello, who had been averaging 12.6 points, scored only two. "I thought we could beat this team and I still do," Jackson said. 'The Americans played an awesome game and we didn't come out firing." The Australians suffered an additional setback when Harrower,
the starting point guard, turned her left foot with 14:27 left and
had to be helped from the floor, tears streaming down her cheeks.
She did not return.
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