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• Events
• International
• Sports
• 09 / 30 / 2007

The United States will play against Cuba - the only team that has given it trouble - after it came back from a 9-point halftime deficit to upset Brazil, 69-67.

The United States struggled against Cuba in its preliminary game, needing a rally to win, 85-79.

Yesterday, it was a rout from the start as the United States (4-0) was too much for Argentina (2-2).

The Americans scored the first 7 points and jumped out to an 18-2 lead with 1:43 left in the first quarter. Seimone Augustus had 7 of her 15 points during that spurt. The US team extended the lead to 28-9 after the first quarter and blew open the game in the second period, taking a 56-15 halftime lead.

Candace Parker scored 17 points for the United States, which was forced to qualify for Beijing after finishing third at the World Championships last year. It's the first time America has had to qualify for the Olympics since 1980.

After struggling against Cuba, the United States has dominated opponents. The Americans outscored Jamaica, Canada, and Argentina by an average of nearly 56 points.

"We're learning what one another likes to do and just playing off each other," Parker said.

Against Argentina, the Americans shot 59 percent from the field (42 for 71) and forced 30 turnovers.