LONDON (Olympics) - The United States trailed for much of the contest but got a shot in the arm from Lindsay Whalen in the third quarter and overcame Australia 86-73 to reach the Final of the Women's Olympic basketball tournament.
With their 39-game winning streak at the Olympics in danger of being snapped, Whalen entered the game with the Opals on top, 56-55.
"I just wanted to come in and make some baskets when we needed it and play really good defense," said Whalen.
"Coach (Geno Auriemma) was telling me to be aggressive after the first half, get in there and make some plays.
"I felt like I did. Everybody made their shots."
The 30-year-old made a jumper in the lane to put the USA in front and then added two free-throws.
Whalen, a member of the team's world-title winning side two years ago, completed her 6-0 run with a 15-footer on the baseline for a 61-56 United States advantage.
A three-point play by Rachel Jarry cut the Australia deficit to two points, but the USA then reeled off six straight points with two baskets from Tina Charles and a 12-footer from Seimone Augustus.
After Australia reduced the arrears to 67-62 on a long three-pointer from Kristi Harrower, Augustus nailed another jumper near the free-throw line and then Maya Moore reached in and knocked the ball out of Liz Cambage's hands before dribbling the length of the floor for an uncontested lay-up.
Australia battled, but there was no way back.
Cambage had 19 points for Australia in the first half but didn’t score after the break. The USA became considerably more aggressive defensively, which coach Auriemma switching from a man-to-man to a very active three-two zone.
"I would love to say that it was strategic on my part, but it was more out of desperation," Auriemma said.
"We couldn't guard them, there was nothing we could do.
"Our bigs were in foul trouble and theirs were absolutely killing us.
"That, and making a couple of shots on the other end proved to be the difference."
Diana Taurasi and Charles poured in 14 apiece for the USA.
They will face the winner of France’s Semi-Final against Russia in the gold medal game.
FIBA
| AUS | USA | |
| Total Points | 73 | 86 |
| Total Rebounds | 41 | 43 |
| Total Assists | 18 | 16 |
| AUS | USA | |
| P | CAMBAGE 19 | TAURASI 14 |
| RB | JACKSON 17 | CHARLES 10 |
| A | JARRY 5 | CHARLES 4 |
| S | RICHARDS 1 | CATCHINGS 2 |
| B | O'HEA 2 | JONES 1 |
AUSTRALIA| FG | 2pts | 3pts | FT | Rbds | ||||||||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Name | Min | M/A | % | M/A | % | M/A | % | M/A | % | O | D | Tot | As | PF | To | St | BS | Pts | ||
| 4 | J. O'HEA | 30 | 4/8 | 50 | 4/6 | 66.7 | 0/2 | 0 | 2/2 | 100 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 3 | 3 | 0 | 0 | 2 | 10 | |
| 5 | S. RICHARDS | 18 | 2/6 | 33.3 | 1/5 | 20 | 1/1 | 100 | 0/0 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 3 | 5 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 5 | |
| 6 | J. SCREEN | 12 | 0/1 | 0 | 0/0 | 0 | 0/1 | 0 | 0/0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 1 | 2 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | |
| 7 | A. BISHOP | Did not play | ||||||||||||||||||
| 8 | S. BATKOVIC | 15 | 3/7 | 42.9 | 3/6 | 50 | 0/1 | 0 | 0/0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 4 | 2 | 1 | 0 | 6 | |
| 9 | K. MACLEOD | Did not play | ||||||||||||||||||
| 10 | K. HARROWER | 22 | 5/11 | 45.5 | 3/8 | 37.5 | 2/3 | 66.7 | 0/0 | 0 | 2 | 2 | 4 | 1 | 2 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 12 | |
| 11 | L. HODGES | Did not play | ||||||||||||||||||
| 12 | B. SNELL | 15 | 0/4 | 0 | 0/1 | 0 | 0/3 | 0 | 2/2 | 100 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 2 | 1 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 2 | |
| 13 | R. JARRY | 23 | 2/6 | 33.3 | 2/5 | 40 | 0/1 | 0 | 1/1 | 100 | 4 | 2 | 6 | 5 | 3 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 5 | |
| 14 | L. CAMBAGE | 31 | 8/13 | 61.5 | 8/12 | 66.7 | 0/1 | 0 | 3/7 | 42.9 | 3 | 4 | 7 | 1 | 3 | 7 | 1 | 2 | 19 | |
| 15 | L. JACKSON | 33 | 5/11 | 45.5 | 4/8 | 50 | 1/3 | 33.3 | 3/6 | 50 | 3 | 14 | 17 | 1 | 3 | 4 | 0 | 0 | 14 | |
| Team/Coaches: | 1 | 1 | 2 | 0 | 0 | |||||||||||||||
| TOTALS: | 200 | 29/67 | 43.3 | 25/51 | 49 | 4/16 | 25 | 11/18 | 61.1 | 16 | 25 | 41 | 18 | 25 | 20 | 3 | 4 | 73 | ||
USA| FG | 2pts | 3pts | FT | Rbds | ||||||||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Name | Min | M/A | % | M/A | % | M/A | % | M/A | % | O | D | Tot | As | PF | To | St | BS | Pts | ||
| 4 | L. WHALEN | 12 | 2/6 | 33.3 | 2/5 | 40 | 0/1 | 0 | 2/2 | 100 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 6 | |
| 5 | S. AUGUSTUS | 16 | 4/7 | 57.1 | 4/6 | 66.7 | 0/1 | 0 | 0/0 | 0 | 1 | 3 | 4 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 8 | |
| 6 | S. BIRD | 28 | 6/8 | 75 | 5/6 | 83.3 | 1/2 | 50 | 0/0 | 0 | 0 | 4 | 4 | 2 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 13 | |
| 7 | M. MOORE | 19 | 4/10 | 40 | 3/6 | 50 | 1/4 | 25 | 0/0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 1 | 3 | 2 | 3 | 2 | 0 | 9 | |
| 8 | A. MCCOUGHTRY | 9 | 1/3 | 33.3 | 1/3 | 33.3 | 0/0 | 0 | 2/4 | 50 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 2 | 0 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 4 | |
| 9 | A. JONES | 10 | 0/0 | 0 | 0/0 | 0 | 0/0 | 0 | 0/0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 0 | |
| 10 | T. CATCHINGS | 23 | 2/4 | 50 | 2/4 | 50 | 0/0 | 0 | 3/5 | 60 | 4 | 4 | 8 | 0 | 3 | 1 | 2 | 0 | 7 | |
| 11 | S. CASH | Did not play | ||||||||||||||||||
| 12 | D. TAURASI | 28 | 2/7 | 28.6 | 0/5 | 0 | 2/2 | 100 | 8/9 | 88.9 | 0 | 5 | 5 | 1 | 4 | 3 | 0 | 0 | 14 | |
| 13 | S. FOWLES | 8 | 2/3 | 66.7 | 2/3 | 66.7 | 0/0 | 0 | 0/0 | 0 | 0 | 2 | 2 | 0 | 3 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 4 | |
| 14 | T. CHARLES | 29 | 6/14 | 42.9 | 6/14 | 42.9 | 0/0 | 0 | 2/6 | 33.3 | 6 | 4 | 10 | 4 | 2 | 1 | 2 | 0 | 14 | |
| 15 | C. PARKER | 18 | 3/9 | 33.3 | 3/9 | 33.3 | 0/0 | 0 | 1/3 | 33.3 | 3 | 2 | 5 | 1 | 4 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 7 | |
| Team/Coaches: | 2 | 1 | 3 | 0 | 0 | |||||||||||||||
| TOTALS: | 200 | 32/71 | 45.1 | 28/61 | 45.9 | 4/10 | 40 | 18/29 | 62.1 | 17 | 26 | 43 | 16 | 22 | 13 | 10 | 1 | 86 | ||
| LEGEND | |||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Min | Minutes played | Tot | Total rebounds | BS | Block Shots |
| M/A | Made/Attempts | As | Assists | Pts | Points |
| % | Shooting percentage | PF | Personal fouls | * | Starters |
| O | Offensive rebounds | To | Turnovers | ||
| D | Defensive rebounds | St | Steals | ||
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(W/L: 5-1 )
| Series | 4 wins |
| Points for (avg) | 71.3 |
| Points against (avg) | 63.7 |
| 2 Points FG | 44.5% |
| 3 Points FG | 27.2% |
| Free-Throws | 82.5% |
| Offensive Rebounds | 13.2 |
| Defensive Rebounds | 29.3 |
| Total Rebounds | 42.5 |
| Assists | 17.8 |
| Turnover | 16.5 |
| Steals | 8 |
| Blocks | 4.3 |
| Fouls | 19 |
(W/L: 6-0 )
| Series | 6 wins |
| Points for (avg) | 92.2 |
| Points against (avg) | 54.5 |
| 2 Points FG | 54% |
| 3 Points FG | 28.7% |
| Free-Throws | 80.4% |
| Offensive Rebounds | 17.5 |
| Defensive Rebounds | 35 |
| Total Rebounds | 52.5 |
| Assists | 24.5 |
| Turnover | 14.5 |
| Steals | 11 |
| Blocks | 6.3 |
| Fouls | 13.7 |
| Date | V | Score |
| 28/07 | Great Britain | 74-58 |
| 30/07 | France | 70-74 |
| 01/08 | Brazil | 67-61 |
| 03/08 | Russia | 70-66 |
| 05/08 | Canada | 72-63 |
| 07/08 | China | 75-60 |
| Date | V | Score |
| 28/07 | Croatia | 81-56 |
| 30/07 | Angola | 90-38 |
| 01/08 | Turkey | 89-58 |
| 03/08 | Czech Republic | 88-61 |
| 05/08 | China | 114-66 |
| 07/08 | Canada | 91-48 |
| # | Players | Position | Height |
| 4 | J. O'Hea | SF | 185/6'1" |
| 5 | S. Richards | PG | 168/5'6" |
| 6 | J. Screen | SF | 180/5'11" |
| 7 | A. Bishop | C | 189/6'2" |
| 8 | S. Batkovic | C | 195/6'5" |
| 9 | K. MacLeod | SG | 168/5'6" |
| 10 | K. Harrower | PG | 166/5'5" |
| 11 | L. Hodges | C | 191/6'3" |
| 12 | B. Snell | SF | 182/6'0" |
| 13 | R. Jarry | SF | 185/6'1" |
| 14 | L. Cambage | C | 203/6'8" |
| 15 | L. Jackson | C | 195/6'5" |
| # | Players | Position | Height |
| 4 | L. Whalen | PG | 175/5'9" |
| 5 | S. Augustus | SF | 183/6'0" |
| 6 | S. Bird | PG | 175/5'9" |
| 7 | M. Moore | SG | 183/6'0" |
| 8 | A. McCoughtry | SF | 185/6'1" |
| 9 | A. Jones | PF | 188/6'2" |
| 10 | T. Catchings | SF | 185/6'1" |
| 11 | S. Cash | SF | 185/6'1" |
| 12 | D. Taurasi | SG | 183/6'0" |
| 13 | S. Fowles | C | 198/6'6" |
| 14 | T. Charles | C | 193/6'4" |
| 15 | C. Parker | C | 193/6'4" |
| 29.09.2010 | USA: | 83 | - | AUS: | 75 |
| 23.08.2008 | AUS: | 65 | - | USA: | 92 |
| 05.08.2008 | AUS: | 67 | - | USA: | 71 |
| 28.08.2004 | USA: | 74 | - | AUS: | 63 |
| 24.09.2002 | AUS: | 56 | - | USA: | 71 |
| 30.09.2000 | USA: | 76 | - | AUS: | 54 |