University of Connecticut Athletics
Auriemma, Huskies Lead Team USA
7/10/2010 12:00:00 AM | Women's Basketball
July 10, 2010
UNCASVILLE, Conn. - In front of a sold out crowd of 9,518 and an ESPN nationally televised audience, the 2010 USA Basketball Women's National Team struck first and never trailed en route to a 99-72 victory over a team comprised of WNBA stars. Played Saturday afternoon at the Mohegan Sun Arena in Uncasville, Conn., the WNBA vs. USA Basketball: The Stars at the Sun Game saw five USA players score in double digits, led by game MVP Sylvia Fowles' 23 points on 9-of-11 shooting from the field.
Former UConn standout Swin Cash had 13 points for the USA and Tina Charles had six. Diana Taurasi had nine points while Sue Bird had two and five assists. Current Husky Maya Moore had 12 points.
"Coming into today (I was) not exactly sure what we were going see," said USA and University of Connecticut head coach Geno Auriemma, who will guide the USA National Team through 2012. "We kind of had an idea going in that some of the older players would play really well. They've been together awhile. They know each other. They feed off each other pretty well.
"I thought the fact that we had 30 assists, 32 assists, something like that, is just an incredible number. To be able to spread the ball around like that, share, make the extra pass, all the things you would want to see a team do. Obviously we got a lot of work to do, but for the first time being with this group, we got a chance to be pretty good."
Fowles hit the first bucket of the game on a feed from Cappie Pondexter, who dished out a game-high six assists in all. After the WNBA squad tied up the score, Diana Taurasi hit a 16-footer, followed by a lay-up and a 3-pointer in just under a minute as the U.S. went up 9-2. The red, white and blue continued to slowly pull away and by the end of the first quarter led 29-9, thanks in part to 10 points from Fowles.
"It's a big role that I have to take on, but at the same time I played under Lisa (Leslie) and Tina (Thompson) for a year to learn a couple of things," said Fowles regarding having to step into the starting role in the post for the USA National Team. "When you got great teammates like Diana to stay in your ear and get things done on the floor, I don't think you have no choice but to go out and compete to the best of your abilities every night."
By halftime the USA National Team, which finished the game with 32 assists on 42 field goals, held a comfortable 49-28 cushion.
