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27 September, 2014
05 October
Geno AURIEMMA (Coach)
30/09/2014
News
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For USA, first few games serve as extension of training camp

ISTANBUL (FIBA World Championship for Women) - Sunday night was no party time for the USA with the reigning women's world champions' unbeaten run of 35 international games coming close to being threatened by a Serbian team riding high on speed and skill.

The USA dug deep into their reserves in the fourth quarter to blow open the tight game and post what looked like an easy 94-74 win that booked their place in Friday's Quarter-Finals.

Coach Geno Auriemma was simply not worried.

"It takes us time because this is our training camp. These games are kind of like our training camp. These last five or six games we played in Paris (exhibition series) and here," he said.

"I think sometimes on the outside, people think you just show up, roll the ball out and we have 25 points right away. It doesn't work that way. These are national teams. They have players that are good. They know how to make shots, they know how to play. They’re experienced. They play well together," he said.

"We just got Brittney Griner a few days ago. We just got Candice (Dupree) and Dee (Taurasi) a week ago. So I'm not surprised by the games that they're close, close, close and then we take off.

I don't expect us to be up 25 points at halftime. It's just not normal. Not for us, not right now. - Auriemma

Forward Maya Moore agreed with her coach.

"Because of our lack of time together, having these tests is really crucial in building our identity and having an opportunity to work out what we say we want to be. So, it's just really good to see the way we responded, and stayed with it and stayed together," she said.

Moore also counted on the roster's depth to carry them through when faced with adversity.

"What is going to eventually give us the edge is our depth and being able to know at any point, if that is what you are here to do, you do it," said the 25-year-old, who had 17 points, 12 rebounds and six assists in the win against Serbia.

"For a couple of us scoring is definitely at the top of the list, and I know whenever I have the chance to score, I'm going to take it.

"And you try to vary it up, whether it's getting an offensive rebound, hitting a three, out in transition and then trying to find my teammates when I'm starting to get hot.

"So, we had a nice balance that way, and I was really pleased with people, in the second half especially, stepping up and doing what they do."

Diana Taurasi sparked the USA's fourth quarter run with her three-point shooting and went on to finish with a team-high 20 points.

"Every possession was a battle. They made us work on defense. There are some things we probably got to clean up," said the guard who bagged the 2013-14 WNBA Finals MVP while leading the Phoenix Mercury to the title.

"These games are good for us. This team hasn't been together very long. In the two weeks that we've been together, we've been battle-tested a couple of times, which in the long run will only help us."

FIBA