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Geno Auriemma and Team USA continued their 2016 Summer Olympics preparation on Wednesday night in the college facility of Women's National Team member Elena Delle Donne. While Delle Donne, the one-time UConn women's basketball commit, didn't disappoint the fans in Newark, Delaware with her performance, it was two former UConn Huskies who led the charge for Team USA.
Tina Charles had 17 points and five rebounds while Maya Moore had 10 points and five rebounds as Team USA beat France 84-62 at a sold-out Bob Carpenter Sports Convocation Center on the campus of the University of Delaware.
Delle Donne had 10 points in front of her college coach while Diana Taurasi scored 10 points as well. Former Husky Sue Bird led the team with eight assists to go along with her five points.
The final former UConn great on the roster, Breanna Stewart, had just three points and three rebounds in over 18 minutes of action.
This was a good test for Team USA as France took home the silver medal in 2012.
While Team USA jumped out to an early six-point lead, France battled back to tie the game, but the U.S. still ended up leading by three at the end of the first quarter.
The second quarter had a similar story. Team USA built a seven-point lead at two different points only to see France cut the deficit down to one point by the end of the half, 32-31.
While it would be great to assume that a rousing Auriemma halftime speech got Team USA going in the second half, it was more likely they started to feel even more comfortable with each other in their second exhibition game. Either way, whatever adjustments Team USA made at the break, they worked as they pulled away from the start of the third quarter and started scoring at a rapid pace to put the game out of reach.
Next up for Team USA in the USA Basketball Exhibition showcase is a matchup with Team Canada and current UConn Husky Kia Nurse in Bridgeport, CT on Friday night. Tip-off is scheduled for 7 p.m.