PAN AMERICAN GAMES : WOMEN’S BASKETBALL : U.S. Plays Hard, Beats Cuba Easily, 91-71

U.S. Coach Vivian Stringer said she believed it would be one of the greatest games ever in women’s basketball. Her players agreed with her. So perhaps did a standing-room-only crowd Thursday night in the 12,000-seat Sports City Coliseum.

It hardly turned out that way as the United States (3-1) played up to its reputation in a 91-71 victory over Cuba (2-2) in the Pan American Games.

When a few members of the boxing team began to wave American flags and lead cheers for the U.S. team, they were drowned out by an overwhelmingly pro-Cuban crowd, which chanted, “ Yanqui Go Home.” But it was the Cuban fans who began to go home with five minutes remaining in the game, perhaps conserving their enthusiasm for Saturday, when these teams meet in a semifinal.

Undefeated Brazil, which ended the United States’ 42-game winning streak last Sunday, faces Canada (1-3) in the other semifinal.

“It’s difficult playing a team back to back,” said guard Jennifer Azzi, formerly of Stanford. “But I think we sent a message tonight that we’re here to play.”

Stringer, who coaches at Iowa, sent a message to Azzi before the game, benching her in favor of her former Stanford teammate, Sonja Henning.

“I spoke to Jennifer before the game, and her attitude was, ‘Whatever it takes for the team to be successful,’ ” Stringer said. “I wanted her over by me at the start of the game so that she could get a look at what we were trying to do in pushing the ball up the floor.”

Azzi didn’t see much of that early in the game as Cuba scored the first six points and held onto the lead for more than 12 minutes. But she must have gotten an idea of what was expected from her because when she came off the bench she played with an intensity she had not shown during the first three games.

It seemed contagious. Diving for loose balls, taking charges, blocking shots, the U.S. women started playing aggressive defense, leading to fast breaks that have been their way of doing business since they began to dominate the sport nine years ago.

Essential to the success of that style is guard Teresa Edwards, a veteran of the 1984 and 1988 gold-medal teams who did not look like herself until late in the first half Thursday. But when she and Azzi finally got in sync in the backcourt, they combined for 11 of the United States’ last 15 points before halftime as it took a 45-40 lead.

“We just started playing ball,” Azzi said. “We did a lot better job on defense and the boards, and that allows us to run.”

Edwards and her former Georgia teammate, 1988 Olympic veteran Katrina McClain, virtually ran the Cubans out of the gym in the second half as the United States went on a 17-4 run early and never allowed the lead to slip to fewer than 10 points.

With Edwards leading the fast break and McClain finishing, they combined for 29 points in the second half, 17 by McClain. Edwards finished with 19 points and eight assists, McClain with 23 points and 12 rebounds. Azzi scored 13.

“I think we’re at another level than when we first got together,” Azzi said. “We’re a lot more focused on what we have to do. The game against Brazil woke us up.”

Stringer said she noticed that in the 57-point victory Monday over Argentina, although she acknowledged others might not have considered that a barometer considering the opponent. Winless Argentina was the only team in the five-team tournament that did not advance to the semifinals.

Despite the easy victory Thursday, Stringer said she does not believe her team will be looking ahead to a rematch with Brazil for the championship when it plays Cuba again Saturday.

“I can’t accept the team being prepared any less for one game than the other,” she said. “It doesn’t matter if you’re playing for charity or the championship, the way we played today is the way we’re determined to play Saturday.”