U.S. women’s basketball team leads Croatia at halftime, 31-28

LONDON -- The U.S. women’s basketball team has won 33 consecutive games in the Olympics. It just beat Croatia last week in an exhibition by 54 points.

So it was highly surprising that the U.S. held a slender 31-28 halftime lead over Croatia in an Olympic opener Saturday at the Olympic Park basketball arena.

The U.S. didn’t look sharp at all on offense, committing 12 first-half turnovers.

Croatia even took a 26-23 lead on Jelena Ivezic’s three-pointer with about 2:45 left in the second quarter.

U.S. guard Diana Taurasi then hit back-to-back three-pointers and Candace Parker made a mid-range jumper to re-establish the U.S. lead. Taurasi had six points in the half and Tina Charles had eight.

Croatia didn’t score until eight minutes into the game but rallied with a slew of three-pointers. Ivezic had 11 points in the first half, making three three-pointers.

The U.S. beat Croatia last week in Turkey, 109-55.

ALSO:

Dana Vollmer sets swim records

Michael Phelps barely avoids disaster

Serena Williams has little trouble in first match