Leadership (Abuja)
15 August 2008
Title favourites, United States showed Olympic first-timers Mali no mercy in the women's basketball, pulverizing the Africans 97-41.
US coach, Anne Donovan said her team were only focused on what immediately lay ahead of them and not automatically assuming the final would be between the United States and world champions, Australia.
The United States stand to win their fourth Olympic title in a row.
"We are not thinking about Australia and that's an honest answer. That's the best part about this team as they really stay in the moment," said Donovan.
"There's no script that says Australia and the United States are going to be in that gold medal game," she continued.
Captain, Lisa Leslie put spark into the US performance with 16 points while four other players reached double figures.
Australian captain, Lauren Jackson was highly critical of herself after the world champions crushed South Korea 90-62 to post their third win and book a quarter-final spot.
"I've been playing like crap," said Jackson, who contributed 16 points. "But I've got great team-mates. They're working their butts off."
Guard, Penny Taylor and centre, Suzy Batkovic had 18 points apiece.
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