Beijing Olympic Games

US women cruises past Czech Republic

BEIJING (TICKER) —The United States women’s basketball team wasted little time showing why they are the top ranked team in the world.

Sylvia Fowles collected 18 points and 14 rebounds and Diana Taurasi scored 17 as Team USA overcame some early struggles before cruising to a 97-57 rout of Czech Republic on Saturday in a Pool B contest.

The Americans, who have won 26 straight Olympic games dating to 1992, did not look like the three-time defending gold medalists early on as they quickly fell behind, 13-2.

But after a timeout, the United States rallied and scored the final 12 points of the first quarter to take a 22-17 lead. The game was never in doubt after that point.

“(We’re) glad to get the first one under our belts,” U.S. head coach Anne Donovan. “We definitely didn’t start off the way we wanted to. But everything is not going to go your way, and things are going to happen and (it’s) how you respond.

“We came out of the timeout and responded immediately, didn’t waste any time at all. At this stage of the game, I think we have 10 days in together, those kinds of things really please the coach, to see that they’re still responsive, they’re making adjustments on the fly.”

Cappie Pondexter scored 12 points and Lisa Leslie pulled down 10 boards for the Americans, who received points from all 12 members of the squad.

Perhaps the world’s best player, Lauren Jackson showed as much as Australia got off to a strong start in its opener at the 2008 Olympics.

Jackson had 18 points and 10 rebounds as Australia routed Belarus, 83-64, in the opening game in Group A of the women’s preliminary round on Saturday.

Suzy Batkovic collected 14 points and 12 rebounds and Penny Taylor added 12 points for the defending world champion Australians, who took a 44-28 lead at halftime.

Australia, which may be the most formidable foe for the favored United States, took its cue from Jackson, who plays for the WNBA’s Seattle Storm. She shot 6-of-14 from the floor and grabbed eight defensive rebounds to anchor the interior for the Australians.

The first overall pick in the 2001 draft by the Storm, Jackson has won two league MVP awards and is a perennial member of the All-WNBA first team. She was backed by Batkovic and Taylor of the Phoenix Mercury, who combined to shoot 9-of-18 from the field.

In Group B contests completed Saturday, both host China and New Zealand held on to pick up opening-game wins.

Lan Bian collected 15 points and 12 rebounds and Nan Chen and Lijie Miao each added 12 points to lead China to a 67-64 victory over Spain.

Spain, which faced a 13-point deficit at the half, was led by Alba Torrens, who finished with 18 points.

Angela Marino scored 19 points as New Zealand held off Mali, 76-72, in the opening game of Group B play. Lisa Wallbutton scored 13 points for New Zealand, which nearly blew a nine-point halftime lead.

Mali cut its deficit to three points midway through the fourth quarter but could not complete the comeback, falling short despite outscoring its counterparts, 42-24, in the paint.

South Korea, which was winless in the 2004 Games in Athens, recorded a 68-62 overtime win over Brazil on Saturday. Younah Choi and Yeonha Beon each scored 19 points.

Tatiana Shchegoleva and Ilona Korstin scored 13 points apiece as Russia rallied for a 62-57 victory over Latvia in a Pool A game.

Russia, which ousted the United States from the 2006 World Championships, overcame a 48-41 deficit after three quarters by holding Latvia to nine points in the final period.