November 23, 2024
USA vs Australia: Team USA crushes Australia to qualify for Olympic final in Paris
Sports

USA vs Australia: Team USA crushes Australia to qualify for Olympic final in Paris

Oleby Ole

The United States women’s basketball team won a __-__ upset of Australia in the semifinals. The victory is the final step in the quest for an eighth consecutive Olympic gold medal, and the American team rose to the challenge with flying colors.

The U.S. played well on offense, with Breanna Stewart and Jackie Young leading the way with 16 and 14 points, respectively, and a team that went 7-of-16 from three-point range and __% shooting overall. But it was the U.S. defense that was particularly solid, with 10 steals and five blocked shots, scoring 19 points off those turnovers. The U.S. also played well at a faster pace, scoring 26 points on the fast break.

So far, Team USA has largely dominated its games, beating Japan, Belgium and Germany in the group stage. Australia easily beat Serbia in the quarterfinals on Wednesday, while the United States beat Nigeria 88-74 en route to the semifinals.

Team USA has now extended its winning streak to 59 games, dating back to 1992. The United States will now face the winner of the France-Belgium game in the gold medal match on Sunday, while Australia will face the loser of that game to compete for bronze.

Live22 updates

  • Team USA beats Australia with a 21-point landslide victory

    The United States won 85-64 and advanced to the gold medal game on Sunday. The United States dominated the competition, crushing Australia in its quest for an eighth consecutive gold medal.

  • After this crushing victory in the semi-final, the United States will now face the winner of the France-Belgium match. The kick-off of this match will take place in just under two hours, at 9 p.m. Paris time.

  • Breanna Stewart finished with a team-best 16 points, followed by Jackie Young with 14 and Kahleah Copper with 11 as a substitute. A’ja Wilson also had a strong game, scoring 10 points and grabbing eight rebounds. Overall, the game was fairly even for the United States, with all but one player scoring and all but two players contributing rebounds.

    Australia’s top scorers all came off the bench, with Isobel Borlase scoring 11 goals and Tess Madgen and Marianna Tolo scoring 10 each.

  • With less than four minutes left, Australia have closed the gap, making the score 78-56. They are unlikely to come back into the game, but there is still some fighting left for this Australian team.

    A pair of free throws from Kristy Wallace cut Australia’s deficit to 20, but Napheesa Collier got a shot from outside the paint to make it 80-58.

  • Kahleah Copper scores on a fast break and Australia takes another timeout. The score is now 73-43, with the United States winning 30-0.

  • Team USA 66, Australia 40 at the end of the third quarter

    The United States continued to extend their lead and all but secured the win. Australia struggled on offense, but more than that, the U.S. did a great job on defense and remained largely error-free. They also made 6 of 12 three-pointers, a marked improvement over some of their early games at these Olympics.

  • Diana Taurasi comes in and gets her first minutes of play. Taurasi, 42, has competed in six Olympics and has hinted that this will be her last Olympics — but in these Games, if the score holds, she could be playing for her sixth straight gold medal on Sunday.

  • Australia took a timeout as the United States started running again, making it 58-36 with less than five minutes left in the third quarter. A’ja Wilson has 10 points and eight rebounds so far, and is having another good game for the United States.

    The 22-point lead is the biggest so far for the United States; things look pretty solid and pretty locked in at this point.

  • The second half has begun and Australia comes back strong. Alanna Smith opens the scoring with a three-pointer and Ezi Magbegor blocks A’ja Wilson. But Jackie Young hits two free throws to make it 47-30.

  • Team USA 45, Australia 27 at halftime

    Australia’s Tess Madgen ends the half with a three-pointer, but so far it’s been Team USA who have played the game.

    The United States is now 4-of-9 from three-point range and 53 percent shooting from the field. But it was the defense that really shined for Team USA in this game, with seven steals and five blocks in the first half. They also took advantage of that defense, scoring 14 points off Australia’s turnovers and scoring 18 points on fast breaks.

    Breanna Stewart leads with 11 points, while Jackie Young has 10. A’ja Wilson has four points and six rebounds, and has been dominant on defense.

  • The United States really found their rhythm and took the biggest lead of the game with a score of 40-21. Both defense and offense were excellent for Team USA.

  • Australia takes a timeout as the United States goes on a 10-0 run to start the second quarter, and now leads 30-16 after three-pointers from Sabrina Ionescu and Jewell Loyd.

  • Kahleah Copper scores the USA’s first three-pointer of the game, giving the game a boost to start the second quarter. A free throw by Brittney Griner makes it 24-16 USA.

  • Team USA leads Australia 20-16 in first quarter

    Brittney Griner scores a layup and gives the Americans a 20-16 lead. Ezi Magbegor’s attempt doesn’t fall, the quarter ends there. Australia tries to get back into the game, but the American team will have to contain them.

  • Australia have lifted the tide a bit, with a few turnovers and some well-placed shots. After closing in on the USA lead, the score is now 18-16 and much closer than at the start of the quarter.

  • Breanna Stewart attempts the first three-pointer for the United States, but it misses. This doesn’t bode well for the United States’ three-point shooting woes…

  • So far, the U.S. has also been able to make some nice defensive plays, with three blocked shots and three steals in the first five minutes of the game. But the Americans have yet to attempt a three-point shot; three-pointers are something the team has struggled with throughout the Olympics.

  • A superb shot from Napheesa Collier made it 12-4 and forced Australia into a timeout with just over six minutes left in the quarter.

  • The semi-final is underway, with Team USA taking on Australia

    The USA started strongly while Australia struggled in attack, with the USA quickly taking a 10-4 lead.

  • Australia starting lineup

    Australia will start with Sami Whitcomb, Jade Melbourne, Steph Talbot, Alanna Smith and Ezi Magbegor.

Ole

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