Angel McCoughtry leads U.S. to 31-point win over Turkey
LONDON -- Geno Auriemma attributes the U.S. women's basketball team's success over the past four Olympics to one simple thing: depth.
While some teams may be able to hang with the American starters, the United States is able to bring a fresh wave of all-stars off the bench to wear their opponents down.
"What we lack in preparation time we make up for in the quality of our depth," Auriemma said. "We have to use it to the best of our advantage. That second group led by Lindsay [Whalen] and Angel [McCoughtry] was the difference in the game.
"From the minute [McCoughtry] stepped on the floor to when the game ended she was the dominant player. That's something that I think we have that very few if any teams in this tournament have so I'm fortunate to have that option."
McCoughtry scored 18 points and Tina Charles added 16 to help the Americans beat Turkey, 89-58, Wednesday night.
Coming off the bench is a new role for McCoughtry, who has started for almost her entire career since high school. It's a role she has thrived in.
"Honestly not starting has been the best thing for my career," she said. "I've gained discipline and I think before I didn't have the discipline. This took my game to another level."
Turkey entered the game undefeated and was expected to give the Americans their toughest test in the Olympics so far. The Turks had looked impressive in their first Olympic appearance and said they weren't intimidated by the top-ranked team in the world despite the U.S. winning its first two games by an average of 38.5 points.
The Turks stayed close for a while. They had an early one-point lead in the first quarter before McCoughtry helped the Americans build a 15-point advantage by the half.
Turkey didn't waver, coming within 50-45 in the third quarter before McCoughtry and the reserves put the game away.
Her three-point play started a 13-2 run. On the Americans' next possession she missed a three-pointer but hustled for the offensive rebound and found Maya Moore for an easy layup.
Whalen then took over, scoring six of the final eight points during the burst to make it 63-47 after three quarters much to the delight of LeBron James, who was in attendance along with some of the other men's Olympic team. The Turks could get no closer in the fourth quarter.
