Staley Helps USA Strike Gold in Rio Olympics

Aug. 20, 2016

COLUMBIA — South Carolina women’s basketball head coach Dawn Staley was part of her fifth Olympic gold medal team Saturday as she helped guide USA Basketball to a 101-72 win over Spain in the 2016 Rio Olympic Games. Staley earned three gold medals as a player and was an assistant coach for the teams in 2008 and 2016.

With Spain playing for its first-ever Olympic medal, the Americans took a tight 21-17 lead after the first quarter as both teams worked the lane in the opening period. The U.S. stretched it out in the second 10 minutes, hitting four 3-pointers to carry a 49-32 lead into halftime. The Americans cranked it up on both sides of the ball in the third quarter, as they had in the medal semifinals, out-scoring Spain 32-17 behind 14-of-18 shooting (.778) and a defensive effort that yielded just five field goals to put the game out of reach.

Over the 13 days of the Olympic tournament, the Americans led the way in most statistical categories. Going into the gold medal game, the U.S. averaged 102.3 points, which was 23.8 points per game more than the next team, Australia (78.5 ppg). The team shot 57.5 percent from the field, including 43.4 percent from 3-point range.

The Americans have won gold in the last six Olympic games, amassing a 49-game win streak at the event, dating back to the 1992 bronze medal game in Barcelona, Spain. Staley was part of the USA Basketball squad that started the current gold medal streak, playing on the 1996, 2000 and 2004 teams.

A more detailed game recap will be available soon at usab.com.