University Southern California Trojans
Lisa Leslie Leads Team USA Against All-Stars
August 06, 2004 | Women's Basketball
Aug. 6, 2004
NEW YORK - In it's final send-off game before the team departs for Athens, Lisa Leslie (Los Angeles Sparks)led the USA Women's Basketball National Team (14-0) to a 74-58 victory over a team of WNBA All-Stars on Thursday night at Radio City Music Hall. Leslie, a three-time All-American at USC and five-time WNBA All-Star, led all scorers with 15 points to go with 12 rebounds. In an ESPN nationally televised game, the U.S. did not disappoint its fans. In addition to Leslie, Tamika Catchings (Indiana Fever) and Yolanda Griffith (Sacramento Monarchs) each notched double-doubles. Griffith was the night's high rebounder with 15 boards to go with 11 points. Catchings posted 12 points and 11 rebounds. And fellow Woman of Troy Tina Thompson (Houston Comets) was the USA's only other player in double digits with 11 points. The U.S., which had not practiced together with all 12 members of the team until arriving in New York on Aug. 3, got off to a slow start and with 15:28 to play in the half held a slim 9-8 margin. Head coach Van Chancellor sent in his reserves at 5:12, which listed just one past Olympian (Griffith). Scoring nine unanswered points, the combination Sue Bird (Seattle Storm), Swin Cash (Detroit Shock), Griffith, Ruth Riley (Detroit Shock) and Diana Taurasi (Phoenix Mercury) put the U.S. up 18-8 at 11:24. The starters returned to the game and continued to pull away, putting the US up 39-20 at the break.. "Right now we need practice, but we knew that when we started," added Chancellor. "We're okay. We have Russia, we have Australia, the Czech Republic, Brazil -- they're awfully good. We're not ready for that. But we have 20 days to get ready. We're going to practice and play and get ready for the games. All we need is some time. Time together, time to play, trying to get us healthy." Heading to Europe for its final tune-up before Athens, the U.S. will compete in a tournament in Salamanca, Spain, along with 2004 Olympic competitor and host Spain, as well as 2003 European Championship fourth place finisher Poland and fifth place finisher France. After the 5:00 p.m. Poland - Spain game, the USA will take on France at 7:30 p.m. on Aug. 8. The consolation game will be played on Aug. 9 at 5:30 p.m., while the championship game follows at 8:00 p.m. Following the tournament, the United States will remain in Spain and practice on Aug. 10 at 11:00 a.m. before traveling to Athens for two final practices, Aug. 12 at 11:00 a.m. and Aug. 13 at 12:00 p.m. The U.S. will then tip-off it's 2004 Olympic competition against New Zealand at 2:30 p.m. on Aug. 14.
