Olympic Basketball 2016: Tuesday Results, Scores, Highlights and Reaction
The women's basketball quarterfinals were set for Tuesday at the Rio Olympics, with the United States mounting its gold-medal defense against Japan.
Below, we'll break down the day's results and recaps for all four of Tuesday's contests.
Results
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| Serbia | 73-71 | Australia |
| Spain | 64-62 | Turkey |
| United States | 110-64 | Japan |
| France | 68-63 | Canada |
Recap
United States Beats Japan, 110-64
For one half, Japan gave the United States a contest. In the second half, however, the United States flexed its might.
Seven different players scored double-digit points for the United States in the team's 110-64 win over Japan, highlighted by Maya Moore (19 points, three rebounds, three assists) and Diana Taurasi (19 points, three rebounds).
The Americans led at the half by 10 points, with the quick and tenacious Japanese giving them all they could handle. But Team USA turned it on from there, outscoring the opposition 54-18 in the second half and 29-5 in the fourth quarter alone.
Not surprisingly, the United States dominated on the boards (50-27), distributed 13 more assists (27-14) and shot an amazing 65.3 percent from the field and 61.1 percent from beyond the arc (11-of-18).
The United States now awaits the winner of France vs. Canada.
Spain Beats Turkey, 64-62
Anna Cruz's one-legged, buzzer-beating runner from just inside of the three-point arc handed Spain a 64-62 win over Turkey on Tuesday.
“I was lucky that it got in,” Cruz said after winning the game, per Teresa M. Walker of the Associated Press (h/t the Washington Times). “I love these kind of shots when they go in. Sometimes the ball goes in, other times it doesn’t.”
A strong fourth quarter from the Spaniards, who trailed by five heading into the final frame, vaulted them to victory. Cruz was the hero, leading the team with 14 points and six assists, saving her best for last, per OptaLarry:
Laura Nicholls added 12 points and 10 rebounds for Spain, while Alba Torrens contributed six points, 11 rebounds and two steals.
“Not just for the way we won, but what this game means for Spain,” Torrens said of the magnitude of the victory after the contest, per Walker. “Never have been in the semifinals of the Olympic Games. This team believes. So it’s something amazing for us.”
LaToya Sanders led the way for Turkey with 22 points, 10 rebounds, four steals and two blocks.
Spain will now face Serbia in the semifinals.
Serbia Beats Australia, 73-71
The women's quarterfinals opened with an upset, as Serbia knocked off the top team from Group A, Australia, 73-71 on Tuesday.
It was the first time the Australians had been eliminated in the knockout phase by a country other than the United States since 1988, according to Nick Zaccardi of NBC OlympicTalk.
Jeff Zillgitt of USA Today was surprised by the outcome, given Australia's pedigree:
Dan Devine of Ball Don't Lie believes the path to gold just got a bit easier for the dominant Americans, however:
Ana Dabovic led way for the Serbians with 24 points, while Sonja Petrovic chipped in 13 points and five assists. Elizabeth Cambage—who has been brilliant in this tournament—once again led the Aussies with 29 points and 11 rebounds, but she couldn't will her team to victory this time around.
Serbia's defense was excellent, nabbing 16 steals and forcing 26 Australian turnovers. That defense was necessary, as Serbia shot just 37.1 percent from the field, though it did go 17-of-24 from the charity stripe.
The two teams were even throughout, with the Australians taking a two-point lead into halftime. Serbia took over the lead in the fourth quarter, though the Australians had a chance to tie the game or win on the final possession. Marianna Tolo's layup didn't go, however, giving Serbia the win.
The Serbians now will face Spain in the semifinals.
France Beats Canada, 68-63
The Canadian women's basketball team led by nine points after the first quarter of Tuesday night's quarterfinal against France, but that proved to be the height of the team's offensive success.
Over the ensuing three quarters, France outscored Canada 52-38 while limiting the Canadians to 13 points or fewer in every period during that span.
As freelance basketball scribe Eric Koreen noted, the Canadian women squandered an otherwise solid effort on defense due to their offensive inefficiencies:
Sandrine Gruda carried France with 14 points (6-of-8 shooting) and 10 rebounds, while Valeriane Ayayi chipped in 12 points and five boards while hitting two of the team's five total shots from beyond the arc.
The real key for France in the five-point win, though, was its advantage on the glass. Not only did France win the overall battle on the boards by 10, but it out-rebounded Canada by four on the offensive glass.
Kim Gaucher led Canada with 15 points (6-of-11 shooting) and five boards, but the captain's side was a minus-11 with her on the floor.
Kia Nurse of Connecticut Huskies fame had generally been the focal point of Canada's attack, but the 20-year-old had a nightmarish outing as she finished with 11 points on 3-of-17 shooting with just three assists and two turnovers.
Because France was able to put the clamps down on Nurse and the rest of Canada's offense, it earned the right to square off against a vaunted United States side in the semifinals.
France and the U.S. last met in the 2012 gold medal game, when the Stars and Stripes smashed the competition by 36 points to take home their fifth straight Olympic championship.
The defending silver medalists have proved to be resilient thus far, but conquering the Red, White and Blue will be a daunting task.
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