U.S. women's basketball team crushes China

Last Updated: Monday, August 11, 2008 | 12:10 PM ET

CBC Sports

Sylvia Fowles of the U.S. puts up a shot against China's Chen Nan during the second quarter of their Group B basketball game at the 2008 Beijing Games on Monday. (Eric Gay/Associated Press)

The U.S. women's basketball team followed the lead of its male counterpart Monday, blowing out host China 108-63 at the 2008 Beijing Olympics.

Forward Tina Thompson poured in 27 points for the Americans (2-0), who avenged a loss to the Chinese in the gold-medal game at the Good Luck Beijing Tournament in April.

Centre Sylvia Fowles added 18 points in the win, forward Candace Parker scored 12, while centre Lisa Leslie posted a double-double — 10 points and 10 rebounds.

Guard Miao Lijie scored 16 points in a losing cause for China (1-1), which suffered its worst loss to the U.S. in Olympic history. The previous mark was a 100-62 drubbing at the 2004 Athens Games.

Thompson was particularly potent in the opening quarter, where she scored 13 points during a 23-0 run that helped the U.S. to a 33-11 lead.

A jumper from Chinese guard Bian Lan finally ended her team's 6½ -minute scoring drought early in the second quarter, but it was a small victory for China as the U.S. continued to build its lead to 61-27 by halftime and cruised the rest of the way.

The U.S. women's win came one night after the men's team beat China 101-70.

The Americans now face Mali when Group B play resumes on Tuesday, the same day China takes on New Zealand.

In other women's basketball action on Monday:

Spain 85, New Zealand 62

Isabel Sanchez led the Spanish women’s basketball team to an 85-62 win over New Zealand in their Group B preliminary-round game on Monday.

Sanchez racked up 19 points, three rebounds and two assists, while teammate Anna Montanana contributed 18 points and seven rebounds.

Jillian Harmon was the high scorer, posting 22 points, five rebounds and three assists for New Zealand.

Spain started off strong, taking an early 18-7 lead after the first quarter. The Spaniards led throughout, allowing their opponents to come within six points of tying the game during the second quarter.

New Zealand fought to close the gap of 13 points during the third quarter, but Spain pulled away in the fourth, netting 25 points to New Zealand’s 10.

Czech Republic 81, Mali 47

The Czech Republic dominated Mali in their preliminary-Group B matchup on Monday, despite Djenebou Sissoko’s 24-point effort for Mali.

Hana Machova was the high scorer for the Czech Republic with 14 points, five rebounds and two assists, with teammates Jana Vesela and Katerina Elhotova adding 12 points each.

The Czech Republic took control early on, finishing the first quarter with a 23-4 advantage. Mali cut the gap to 16 after the second quarter, trailing 38-22.

The Czechs pulled away again in the third, leading 51-24 after three, before cruising to victory in the fourth quarter.

Russia 77, South Korea 72

Tatiana Shchegoleva led the Russian team with 13 points in a win over South Korea in Group A action on Monday.

Russia’s Ilona Korstin also had 13 points, along with two assists and five rebounds. Marina Karpunina added 12 points, and Irina Osipova posted 11 for the Russian squad.

Younah Choi was the high scorer for the Koreans, with 13 points, two assists and two rebounds.

Russia led through the first two quarters, but Korea took the lead after three, 59-58. Korea held the lead through the first half of the final quarter, before Russia came back to go ahead before the buzzer.

Belarus 80, Latvia 57

In other Group A action, Belarussian Yelena Leuchanka was the high scorer in a win over Latvia, netting 22 points, one assist and four rebounds.

Tatyana Troina added 17 points, while Katsiaryna Snytsina added 12.

Latvia was ahead after the first quarter, leading 13-12, but Belarus pulled ahead after two, taking a 21-20 advantage and keeping the lead the rest of the game.