BEIJING — Former LSU All-American center Sylvia Fowles registered a double-double with 16 points and 14 rebounds as the United States Women’s Senior National Team overcame a sluggish start to handily defeat the Czech Republic, 97-57, to open Olympic play on Saturday evening at Wukesong Arena.
Fowles, who made her Olympic debut, was the only player in the contest to register double-figures in points and rebounds. She finished 7-of-9 from the field, knocked down two free throws and added two blocks in 17 minutes of action. Fellow teammate and former LSU star Seimone Augustus had nine points, two rebounds and two assists in her Olympic debut.
“I think my performance was good overall,” Fowles said. “I felt like there are a few things I could have cleaned up, but I fed off my teammates’ energy and they got me going and I tried to contribute the same thing.”
Fowles commented on the excitement of beginning Olympic play with the U.S. men’s team and President George W. Bush on hand.
“I’ve been saying all along that it hasn’t hit me yet, but just to come out here tonight and see how many fans we have supporting us and know that our president was out here watching us play, everything feels good,” she said. “Now it feels like the Olympics.”
Team USA (1-0) fell behind 8-0 from the start and did not get on the board until the 6:39 mark in the first period on a jumper from Diana Taurasi. The Czech Republic (0-1) built upon its advantage and held a 17-10 lead with 3:17 to play in the first quarter.
“I don’t want to say it was early nerves, but I think we were too anxious to play,” Fowles said. “We were getting good shots, but they just weren’t falling. Once we got things flowing, we got our rhythm back and we got in the groove.”
The Americans finally turned it on a bucket from Lisa Leslie that jump started a 12-0 U.S. run. The red, white and blue claimed its first lead, 19-17, with 1:26 to play. The U.S. never trailed again and outscored the Czech Republic, 48-26, in the third and fourth quarters combined.
Team USA forced 27 turnovers on the Czech Republic, who shot only 36 percent from the field. Meanwhile, the Americans ? led by Fowles’ 14 boards ? out-rebounded their opponent 41-32 and poured in 50 points inside the paint.
“We had a slow start tonight and not every game is going to be like that,” Fowles said. “We could come out and have a slow start and not be able to come back like we did tonight. We have to take every game as we go and not take anybody for granted because everybody has something to prove against USA.”
In Saturday’s other opening games, Australia defeated Belarus, 82-64; New Zealand edged Mali, 76-72; China held on against Spain, 67-64; South Korea took Brazil in overtime, 68-62; and Russia topped Latvia, 62-57.
The U.S. takes on host China in its next preliminary round contest. Tip time is 7 a.m. CDT Monday. The game will be televised live on USA Network and the NBC Olympic Basketball Channel.