They Try to Put On a Show : Basketball: U.S. women, hoping to build interest in a league of their own, roll past Spain, 114-59. CIS is next opponent in semifinals.

While the Dream Team tries to drum up extra motivation, the U.S. women fly end to end for 40 minutes.

It’s no coincidence, either.

The men already have a league within the continental United States.

The U.S. women, 11 of whom play in pro leagues overseas, blew out Spain on Monday night, 114-59, finished the first round 3-0 and will move into Wednesday’s semifinal against the Commonwealth of Independent States.

The women have won their games by an average of 45.3 points.

The U.S. men’s team is winning its games by an average of 45.8.

Monday’s was a typical game for the women. Midway through the first half, they were tangled up, leading, 24-20, over the Spaniards, the last hope of their basquet -mad compatriots to play for a basketball medal.

The Americans spurted to a 51-32 halftime lead and never stopped spurting. If the men played as hard as the women do when they’re 20 points up, they’d score 200.

“You like it?” asked Theresa Grentz, the U.S. women’s coach. “Then write about it.

“I’ve had a lot of fun with the teams I’ve coached in international basketball but this group is different.

“It’s an older group. It’s a professional group with no college players. It’s more conscious of the big picture: values, life, little kids, a pro league. They’re carrying a lot on their shoulders.

“This team is on a mission and it’s not so much for them as the little kids back in the States who want to play, who say, ‘What’s left for me?’ ”

Grentz’s hard-driving players bounced the occasional Spaniard around, too.

Tammy Jackson took a step toward Carolina Mujica after they bumped, precipitating a roar from the home crowd.

Clarissa Davis spun a Spaniard around as they clutched the basketball and didn’t extend a hand in friendship afterward.

The crowd also whistled at Grentz, who pounced off the bench to complain about calls.

“Definitely it was a home crowd,” Grentz said. “They’ve been building for this for months. They’re hosting the Olympics. But there was no hostility.”

Meanwhile, half the men’s team sat in the stands behind the bench, applauding.

It was family night. Magic Johnson was there with wife Cookie and Earvin III, who is 2 months old. Michael and Juanita Jordan sat in front of him, the Patrick Ewings and David Robinsons alongside him, the Chris Mullins and infant son behind them.

“I was too busy trying to win the game to notice who was here,” said Teresa Edwards, team captain and three-time Olympian. “I’m glad they came.”

Late Monday night, Grentz was rejoicing in the relentless effort, hoping out loud it would interest corporate sponsors.

“I said all along, the men would dominate everything, but the team that would benefit most would be us,” Grentz said.

It isn’t that easy.

However worthy, the women’s mission resembles Don Quixote’s. No formal breakdowns of TV ratings is available, but the men clearly will continue to get considerably more air time than the women.

It’s a hard world to get a break in. Don’t burn those passports.

In other games, the Commonwealth of Independent States earned a semifinal berth against the United States by defeating Brazil, 76-64. Elena Tornikidou and Elena Chvaibovitch scored 20 points each to lead the CIS. Brazil failed to make the medal round after winning the gold medal at the 1991 Pan American Games.

“After losing to Cuba, we were morally sunk,” the CIS’ Elena Khoudachova said. “But now we will be playing in the semifinals with a lot more confidence.”

Undefeated Cuba rested three of its best players--Leonor Borrel, Regla Hernandez and Dalia Henry--but still defeated Italy, 60-53. Cuba will play China in the other semifinal.

China built a 12-point lead in the second half, then held off a late run by Czechoslovakia (0-3) to win, 72-70.

Basketball Notes

Medina Dixon led all scorers with 28 points. “I love Medina Dixon,” Coach Theresa Grentz said. “She was knocking ‘em down.” . . . Teresa Edwards had six assists but shot five for 13, missing all four of her three-point attempts. “Thank God I did something right,” Edwards said. “I don’t know what the deal is with my shot.”