Credit: Miguel Bordoy
Spain played until the very end but could not keep up with the strength of the Americans. Playing without Amaya Valdemoro who went out with sprained ankle, Spain was not able to defend properly on defense. Inside, outrebounded and outside shooters for team USA shot the ball well, even without superstar Diana Taurasi who was in a bit of foul trouble. Spain had troubles getting clear shots and settled on a few airballs and missed shots, including turnovers.
Spain will face Belarus in the Bronze Medal game at 5:30pm local time. Belarus lost to World Championship host Czech Republic in overtime by 4 pts.
BOX SCORE
USA (29)(29)(29)(19): Bird (4), Dupree (6), Catchings (14), Taurasi (11), Charles (9), Whalen (6), Jones (9), McCoughtry (11), Appel (6), Cash (9), Fowles (13) y Moore (8).
SPAIN, (16)(18)(19)(17): Lima (2), Palau (7), Montañana (4), Valdemoro (4), Torrens (7), Nicholls (4), Fernández (16), Lyttle (-), Pascua (6), Aguilar (3), Martínez (12) y Cruz (5).
With the marks of top Spanish National teams and figures such as Rafael Nadal who just won the Wimbledon after a 44 year drought for Spanish Players and the Spanish Soccer team who also won the Euro2008 after not winning in the 40s. The national teams for Spain both women and men are hoping to follow in those footsteps in Pekin during the Olympic Summer Basketball Games!