ISTANBUL (AP) – Maya Moore scored 18 points and the U.S. beat Spain 77-64 to win its second straight gold medal at the women’s world championship Sunday.
Lindsay Whalen added 12 points for the United States (6-0), which hasn’t lost in a gold medal game in the world championship since 1983, when it was beaten by the Soviet Union 84-82. Except for a hiccup in 2006 when the Americans lost to Russia in the semifinals, they have won every Olympic and world championship game since 1996. If not for that upset in Brazil, the U.S. would have five straight world titles.
The Americans turned this game quickly into a laugher, jumping out to a 13-point lead in the game’s first 4½ minutes. Spain (5-1) could only get within seven the rest of the way.
Moore, who was chosen tournament MVP, was the key in that early burst, scoring 11 points during the opening 18-5 run. Her 3-pointers barely moved the net as the Americans blitzed Spain, which was making its first appearance in the championship game.
Behind strong offensive rebounding, the Spaniards rallied to within 24-17, but then Whalen took over. She had nine points during a 13-0 run by the Americans spanning the end of the first and start of the second quarter to make it a 20-point game. Whalen ended the first quarter with a spectacular drive that ended with a floater in the lane right before the buzzer.