OLYMPICS REPORT / 33 DAYS TO THE GAMES : U.S. Women Hold Off Russia, 80-79
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The U.S. women’s national basketball team, unbeaten in its eight-month exhibition tour, improved to 51-0 by edging the Russian Olympic team, 80-79, in an exhibition game at the University of Illinois-Chicago Pavilion.
“Being undefeated is irrelevant,” U.S. Coach Tara VanDerveer said. “What’s important to me is that we do our best in the Olympics.”
Dawn Staley, a 5-foot-6 guard who played at Virginia, made two free throws with 18 seconds left to put the U.S. team in front, 80-76. Irina Routkovskaya then made a three-point basket to finish the scoring.
Lisa Leslie, a 6-5 former USC standout, had a game-high 24 points, and Katrina McClain added 13 points and 12 rebounds.
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