July 22, 2007, Rio de Janiero, Brazil – The United States defeated Cuba 78-63 in the final preliminary round game of the Pan Am Games at Rio Multipurpose Arena Sunday evening. Maryland’s Marissa Coleman led the U.S.A. with 19 points while Louisville’s Angel McCoughtry was the second leading scorer with 13 points.
Cuba jumped out to an 8-6 lead in the first five minutes of the game. The United States finished the first quarter with a slight 17-13 lead. McCoughtry entered the game at the five minute mark of the first quarter. She finished the quarter with five points. That included a steal that she converted into three points to end the quarter.
Cuba came back to cut the U.S. lead to 22-20 in the first five minutes of the second quarter. The United States finished out the quarter with a 14-4 run to lead 34-26 at the break. McCoughtry played the whole second quarter, finishing with nine points.
The United States continued to build its lead, jumping out to a 47-30 lead in the first five minutes of the third quarter. Cuba made a 17-11 run in the final five minutes, cutting the U.S. lead to 58-47 at the end of the quarter.
The U.S. held the lead with a 68-51advantage in the first five minutes of the final quarter. Cuba outscored the United States 13-10 to finish out the quarter but it was not enough. The United States shot 42 percent from the field while Cuba shot 38 percent. The U.S. held a slight 38-34 rebounding advantage.
McCoughtry finished the game 42 percent from the field and 50 percent from behind the arc. She also finished with five rebounds and two steals. McCoughtry saw action in all four quarters for Team USA.
The United States will play in the semifinals on Monday, the time and opponent will be determined following the Brazil-Canada game.
Notes: UCONN’s Mel Thomas did not play in the game. No reason was listed as to why. Charde Houston had 7 points, 3 rebounds and 2 steals.
