BEIJING — Former LSU All-American center Sylvia Fowles erupted for a tournament-high 26 points and 14 rebounds as the United States women’s basketball team advanced to the Olympic semifinals with a 104-60 dominating performance over South Korea on Tuesday night at Wukesong Arena.
South Korea had no answer for the post presence of Fowles, who finished 12-of-17 from the field with two blocks and two assists. Fowles recorded her second double-double of the tournament and has nearly been averaging a double-double a game with 14.8 points and 8.7 rebounds in Team USA’s six Olympic contests.
“You want to go out there and give it your all and play the game like it’s your last,” Fowles said. “I know I’ve kind of been in a slump the last few games, and I haven’t performed well since the first two games we played in the preseason. I just wanted to come out and make a statement that I was back and let my teammates know that they can have confidence in me again.”
The Americans (6-0) put together a 26-9 second-quarter run that wore down South Korea (2-4) and propelled the U.S. into Thursday’s semifinal round against Russia. Russia was an 84-65 winner over Spain in another quarterfinal, which sets up a rematch of the 2006 FIBA World Championship. Russia handed the Americans a 75-68 setback in that contest.
“We can be much better,” Fowles added. “We just have to put our mind to it and be ready for everything that comes against us. We know no one has anything to lose and they’re going to come out ready so we need to make sure we’re ready.”
Tip time for the U.S. and Russia on Thursday is 7 a.m. CDT live on MSNBC and the NBC Olympic Basketball Channel. China and Australia will meet in the second semifinal at 9:15 a.m. CDT.
Every U.S. player scored in Tuesday’s quarterfinal, including former LSU All-American guard Seimone Augustus, who chipped in seven points and three assists in 20 minutes of action. Augustus has averaged 9.1 points per game in Olympic play.
The U.S. shot 56.6 percent from the field and relied on its inside superiority to score 66 points in the paint. South Korea was outrebounded, 50-24, and gave up 22 second-chance points.
Fowles tallied nine of her 26 points in the third quarter while the U.S. defense allowed only nine points in the period and four made baskets.
“You have a lot of players playing great defense and that just gets me going even more,” Fowles said. “I try to be a big factor on the defensive end, crashing the boards or getting a tip or help side (defense).”