BEIJING — Team USA’s Tina Thompson had taken a behind- the-back drop pass from teammate Tamika Catchings and leaped toward the basket.
But Chinese guard Bian Lan ran into Thompson and sent her crashing into the padded protective barrier in front of several photographers. On this day, not even a collision like that could stop Thompson.
She released the ball on contact, and it hit the backboard, then it bounced once, twice on the rim, before falling through. In a 108-63 demolition of China at Wukesong Indoor Stadium on Monday, Thompson made almost every shot she took to finish with 27 points.
“When somebody is on, the thing you’ve got to do is get them the ball,” Catchings said.
Thompson made her first six shots from the field and finished 8-for-9 in the first half with 21 points. She appeared capable of breaking the U.S. Olympic scoring record set by Lisa Leslie, who had 35 points against Japan in 1996.
Walsh rings in another victory.
Kerri Walsh has her gold ring back on her hand and another golden prize in her sights.
The American beach volleyball player covered her wedding ring with a bandage today, when she and Misty May-Treanor beat a pair of three-time Olympians from Cuba in straight sets to all but assure themselves of a spot in the medal round.
Walsh, who is married to fellow pro Casey Jennings, lost the ring Sunday in the first game of the round robin. It was dug up by a volunteer after venue officials combed the sand with metal detectors and security wands.
“I didn’t know I was superstitious about it until I lost it,” Walsh said.
Walsh and May-Treanor, the gold medalists in Athens, beat Dalixia Fernandez Grasset and Tamara Larrea 21-15, 21-16 for their 103rd consecutive victory.
U.S. no match for Cubans.
Cuba, ranked third in the world, overpowered the U.S. women 25-15, 26-24, 25-17 and improved to 2-0 in preliminary-round play in women’s volleyball. The U.S. women are 1-1.
Footnotes.
Serena Williams raced into the third round in the women’s tennis competition, winning the final 10 games today to beat Samantha Stosur of Australia 6-2, 6-0.
• Don’t mess with Chinese weightlifters. Zhang Xiangxiang won the men’s 62kg division, improving China to 4-for-4 in the lifting events.
• American boxer Raynell Williams easily won his opener 9-1 over Italy’s Alessio di Savino in the featherweight division.
• Corey Cogdell, a 21-year-old Alaskan, won a four-way shoot-off for bronze in women’s trap shooting. Cogdell finished 50th at last year’s world championships.
• In whitewater slalom singles, 19-year-old American Benn Fraker finished 10th and advanced to the semifinals.
• The U.S. women’s water polo team, with 10 first-time Olympians, overcame a shaky start to beat host China 12-11 in preliminary play.
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