USA beats Russia 93-58 in another Diamond Ball blow-out

(BEIJING, August 4) -- Following Australia's blow-out of Mali 112-43, the United States decisively crushed Russia 93-58 on the last day of round-robin group play of the Diamond Ball for Women.

This victory ensures the three-time Olympic gold defending champion United States will meet their biggest rivals, the 2006 World Champion Australia, in the final game of the warm-up tournament on August 5.

The United States enjoyed a lead throughout the entire game, once as large as 39 points, while Russia was unable to take the advantage a single time. Russia did not even manage to outscore the US team in any quarter, although their best effort came in the third where they had 21 points to their opponents' 24. The United States put the game away definitively in the second quarter, where they brought in 26 points and held Russia to single digits, at nine points over the whole 10 minutes.

This game was also the first time Becky Hammon faced her compatriots while wearing a Russian jersey, and she accomplished more than she did during Russia's loss to Latvia the day before, where she had three points in over 20 minutes of play. Hammon was the third-highest scorer on her team tonight, with 10 points and three rebounds. Forward Tatiana Shchegoleva led Russia contributing 14 points but no rebounds or assists, and 1.96 meter Irina Osipova followed with 12 points and six rebounds.

The United States' guard Diana Taurasi led with a game-high 21 points and three rebounds. Taurasi not only played for the 2007 WNBA champion Phoenix Mercury, but also for the 2007 EuroLeague champion Spartak Moscow Region. Other game leaders on the US side were Sylvia Fowles netting 15 points and grabbing five rebounds, and the team's youngest player Candace Parker with 12 points and four boards.

This win puts the United States at the top of the tournament's group B, and their game against group A leader Australia on August 5 will be an exciting preview of what many believe the Olympic Women's Basketball final will look like. The surprise finish of this tournament is Russia in group B's third and lowest slot, knocked out of second place standing by Latvia. Russia's team had often been mentioned in the same breath with Australia as a team to challenge United States dominance in Beijing.

During the final day of the Diamond Ball for Women on August 5, Russia will meet Mali at 2:00 p.m., Latvia will face China at 4:00 p.m., and the United States will be challenged by Australia at 7:30 p.m. (note: all times are UTC/GMT +8).