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Bush Watches US Top Czechs in Basketball

Taurasi layup sparks surge to 97-57 victory

By the Associated Press

Posted Aug 9, 2008 5:29 PM CDT
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(AP) – With President Bush and the first family looking on, the United States women's basketball team began its quest for a fourth-straight gold medal with a rout of the Czech Republic. Diana Taurasi scored 13 of her 17 points in the first half to lead the US to the 97-57 victory in the opener tonight. The Americans got off to a slow start, trailing 13-2 after giving up layup after layup to the feisty Czech team.

Taurasi finally got the team rolling much to the pleasure of Bush, who was dressed in a blue shirt and USA cap. Taurasi's layup ignited a 20-4 run by the US to close the first quarter. "Sometimes you think things are going to be easy from the get-go and they're not," Taurasi said. "We're playing against very good teams that have been together for a long time."

Team USA's Kara Lawson shoots around Czech Republic's Ivana Vecerova during a women's basketball game at the Beijing 2008 Olympics in Beijing, Saturday, Aug. 9, 2008.
Team USA's Kara Lawson shoots around Czech Republic's Ivana Vecerova during a women's basketball game at the Beijing 2008 Olympics in Beijing, Saturday, Aug. 9, 2008.   (AP Photo)
Team USA men's basketball player Kobe Bryant watches the USA vs Czech Republic women's preliminary basketball game at the Beijing 2008 Olympics in Beijing, Saturday, Aug. 9, 2008.
Team USA men's basketball player Kobe Bryant watches the USA vs Czech Republic women's preliminary basketball game at the Beijing 2008 Olympics in Beijing, Saturday, Aug. 9, 2008.   (AP Photo)
Team USA's Diana Taurasi, right, shoots over the Czech Republic's Ivana Vecerova during a women's basketball game at the Beijing 2008 Olympics in Beijing, Saturday, Aug. 9, 2008.
Team USA's Diana Taurasi, right, shoots over the Czech Republic's Ivana Vecerova during a women's basketball game at the Beijing 2008 Olympics in Beijing, Saturday, Aug. 9, 2008.   (AP Photo)
WNBA president Val Ackerman, left, is joined by George Bush at the USA vs Czech Republic women's preliminary basketball game in Beijing, Saturday, Aug. 9, 2008.
WNBA president Val Ackerman, left, is joined by George Bush at the USA vs Czech Republic women's preliminary basketball game in Beijing, Saturday, Aug. 9, 2008.   (AP Photo)
George Bush plays basketball with members of the PeacePlayers international Basketball Group in Belfast, Norethern Ireland, Monday June 16, 2008.
George Bush plays basketball with members of the PeacePlayers international Basketball Group in Belfast, Norethern Ireland, Monday June 16, 2008.   (AP Photo)
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women's basketball • basketball • Czech Republic • 2008 Beijing Olympics • Olympic Games • George W. Bush • US Olympic Athletes

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