U.S. Women Win 30th Straight Game, Augustus Scores 12

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U.S. Women Win 30th Straight Game, Augustus Scores 12

By Associated Press

WATCH A REPLAY OF THE GAME!

Another game, another rout. Tina Thompson scored 10 of her 15 points during a 21-0 run in the second quarter and the U.S. women's basketball team beat New Zealand 96-60 on Sunday night.

Former LSU Lady Tigers Seimone Augustus (12 points) and Sylvia Fowles (eight points, six rebounds) combined for 20 points for Team USA.

The U.S. closed out pool play in the same fashion as all its other games in the Olympics - with a blowout. The Americans won the five games by an average of 43 points. With the exception of a rough first half against Spain and the first 3 minutes against the Czech Republic, the U.S. looked unbeatable.

The U.S. will play South Korea in the quarterfinals Tuesday night. The South Koreans advanced to the next round by holding off Latvia 72-68 on Sunday.

New Zealand was able to stay close with the U.S. for a quarter behind hot shooting. They were 8-for-16 in the first quarter and only trailed by five at the end of the period.

The U.S. took over in the second quarter turning up their defensive intensity. Lisa Wallbutton's jumper with 7:29 left in the period cut New Zealand's deficit to 29-22 before the Americans scored 21 straight points.

Lisa Leslie started the run with a layup and then Thompson hit three layups and two jumpers over the next 5 minutes as the U.S. stretched out its lead. Delisha Milton-Jones' reverse layup ended the run with 18 seconds left in the half and put the Americans up 50-22.

New Zealand (1-4) finally scored on Jillian Harmon's jumper from the corner just at the halftime buzzer. The Kiwis missed eight straight shots and had three turnovers during the drought.

The U.S. extended its lead in the third quarter to 38 in the third quarter behind Katie Smith, who had eight of her 13 points in the period.

Angela Marino led New Zealand with 17 points and Wallbutton added 14.

In other games Sunday, Australia defeated Russia 75-55, China beat the Czech Republic 79-63, Spain routed Mali 79-47, and Brazil topped Belarus 68-53.

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