Big Syl helps Team USA to key win over Australia in World Championships

Led by 24 points from Diana Taurasi (Phoenix Mercury) the USA Basketball Women's World Championship Team (6-0) remained undefeated and earned an 83-75 win after fending off a second-half surge from Australia (5-1) to wrap up the second round of the 2010 FIBA World Championship on Wednesday night in Ostrava, Czech Republic.

With the victory, the USA is the No. 1 seed out of Group E and will face South Korea (3-3), the No. 4 seed out of Group F, in the medal round quarterfinals on Friday, Oct. 1 (time TBD) in Karlovy Vary, Czech Republic. All of the USA's games will air live on NBA TV, and fans can also watch live streaming of all FIBA World Championship games at www.FIBATV.com.

The USA also received double-digit scoring from Sylvia Fowles (Chicago Sky), who was 6-of-7 from the field for 15 points to go with her six rebounds, and Tina Charles (Connecticut Sun), who finished with 14 points.

With the USA leading by as many as 24 points in the second period and by 15 points at the start of the fourth quarter, Australia twice cut the USA's lead to nine points in the last 2:26 of the game and closed the gap to eight with a 3-pointer at 54.0 seconds remaining that brought the game to its 83-75 final.

"I think it was surprising," Auriemma said. "The first half, the first quarter especially, I thought we came out and played great and did a lot of really, really good things offensively and defensively. Played with a lot of confidence, and I thought the second half was more like what I thought the whole game would be like - very, very physical, very difficult for either team to get great shots."

Sylvia Fowles (LSU/Chicago Sky)
Opening comments:
As a team I think we started off very well, got the ball moving, knocking down a couple easy shots and utilizing what we do well.

On guarding the 6-8 Liz Cambage:
It’s something different. She’s a big body you have to go up against. She’s very physical and you just have to get after her, if not then she will embarrass you and I’m not trying to get embarrassed.

What did you learn about your team, what do you take away from this game?
First of all, just knowing what we can do as a team and continue that energy in the second half and just think about what Australia did in the second half and utilize that. Make sure we cut down on our turnovers and do what we do well.

Are you feeling more comfortable out there? You seem to be getting back in the flow of things.
Yes, I’m feeling very comfortable. The first few games trying to get back it was more of a rush and not taking my time. I was doing a lot of stupid things. I was talking to my assistant coaches and getting some input and how they feel about what I was doing on the floor. I took that into perspective, I took it in stride and I’m just taking my time playing my game.

Posted by Bob Starkey