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Wednesday, September 27
Leslie scores 18 in defensive struggle
Associated Press
SYDNEY, Australia -- First she did it with her scoring, then
with her composure.
Lisa Leslie gave the U.S. women's basketball team just what it
needed to win its lowest-scoring game in Olympics history.
|  | | Lisa Leslie kept the U.S. from losing its foothold against Slovakia. |
The 6-foot-5 center from the Los Angeles Sparks hit three jump
shots from 15 feet and beyond early in the second half to help the
United States shake off Slovakia 58-43 in an ugly game Wednesday
and move into the semifinals of the Olympic tournament.
Leslie also played peacemaker, keeping teammate DeLisha Milton
from going after a Slovakian player who had elbowed her in the
face.
"That's probably the way they play, trying to get in our
heads," forward Yolanda Griffith said. "We're not about that.
We're about one thing and that's winning as a team. Maybe there
were some cheap shots tonight. But we're not going to worry about
that. We won the game."
One more victory, and the United States will be in the gold
medal game, which is where the Americans had expected to end these
Olympics all along. To get there, though, they'll have to win a
rematch with pesky South Korea on Friday.
South Korea, which advanced with a 68-59 victory over France,
gave the United States fits in the first game of the preliminary
round with its frenetic offense of crisp passing, precise patterns
and fearless drives to the basket.
The Americans led by only five points in the second half before
winning 89-75.
Australia plays Brazil in the other semifinal.
Unable to match the Americans' athleticism, Slovakia tried to
grind it out by working the ball patiently on offense and forcing
the U.S. players to the perimeter with a 2-3 zone.
It led to a lot of bumping, pushing and shoving and it almost
got out of hand late in the game.
With 4 minutes left, Slovakia's Renata Hirakova elbowed DeLisha
Milton in the mouth, knocking her backward to the floor. Milton
started after the Slovakian player when she got up, but Leslie
grabbed her from behind.
"I told DeLisha I realized she got hit, but she had to control
herself," Leslie said. "We're at the Olympics. If we were
anywhere else, we would have taken care of her. She really kept her
composure. She calmed down once she looked at our bench saw the
red, white and blue."
It was 51-40 at the time. The Americans then scored the next six
points to finally open it up. Goodbye, Slovakia. Hello, South
Korea.
"In my opinion, the foul by Hirakova was a huge mistake,"
Slovakia coach Lubomir Dousek said.
Designed to keep the game from becoming a blowout, Slovakia's
slow, physical approach worked. The United States, which had been
averaging 87 points a game, had never before scored so few points
in the Olympics.
The fewest previously came in a 77-70 victory over Yugoslavia in
the 1992 gold medal game.
If it hadn't been for Leslie, the United States, ahead just
31-23 at halftime, might not have reached 50.
She hit three jump shots, two with her feet straddling the
3-point arc, as the United States opened a 42-27 lead with 15:57
left. That cushion would be enough, though it didn't get any
prettier as bodies constantly crashed to the floor and shots
clanged off the rim.
"They did a good job sagging," Leslie said. "I don't think
we'll see another game played like that again."
The United States lost starting forward Nikki McCray with a
jammed finger early in the second half. Later, the two teams went a
total of 10 possessions during a 3-minute span without scoring.
This was not going to be one for the highlight reel.
"We started out strong," Griffith said. "But then we played
right into their hands. We took shots we didn't need to take, they
got the rebound and slowed the game down."
Seven of the first 10 U.S. baskets were layups, and the
Americans appeared on the verge of blowing it open early.
A vocal band of Slovakian athletes with spinning noisemakers and
tireless voices cheered every move by their team and, for a while,
it was all in vain.
Ahead 10-8, six different players scored as the United States
went on a 16-1 run. Katie Smith hit a 3-pointer. Leslie sank two
free throws and made a layup. Griffith, who had 13 points, scored
on a perfectly executed pick and roll and Teresa Edwards followed
with a scoop shot.
Just like that it was 26-9 and Slovakia had not made a basket
for almost 10 minutes. The Slovakian fans continued to make noise,
though, and their team finally responded.
The United States went cold and when Anna Kotocova sank two free
throws, her team trailed the United States just 26-20. If Slovakia
wanted to keep the game ugly, it was working.
Martina Luptakova's driving basket drew the Slovakians to 27-22.
The United States needed two late baskets -- a putback by Leslie and
a 3-pointer that Ruthie Bolton-Holifield banked in from the left
wing -- just to lead by eight at halftime.
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