Rutgers' Stringer, U.S. Team Defeat Czech Republic 80-61
Aug 16 | Women's Basketball
ATHENS, GREECE – Rutgers women’s basketball head coach C. Vivian Stringer and the 2004 U.S. Women’s Basketball Olympic Team ran its Athens Games record to 2-0 with an 80-61 victory against the Czech Republic Aug. 16. Stringer is serving as an assistant coach for the two-time defending gold medalist U.S. team.
Despite another slow start, the Americans overcame a first-quarter deficit to lead 42-35 at halftime. The U.S. lead grew to as many as 24 in the fourth quarter, as Lisa Leslie and company dominated on the boards (43-22). Leslie posted a double-double with her team-best 15 points and 10 rebounds.
The U.S. will next face South Korea Wednesday, Aug. 18. That game will be shown on the USA Network at 7:00 a.m. The game against the South Koreans will mark the third of five pool-play games for the Americans.
Stringer, who will begin her 33rd season on the college sidelines this fall, owns the fourth-highest victory total in women’s college basketball history (695-239), including a 175-104 mark in her nine seasons at Rutgers. A member of the Women’s Basketball Hall of Fame, the three-time national coach of the year remains the only coach, men’s or women’s, to lead three different schools to the NCAA Tournament Final Four (Cheyney in 1982, Iowa in 1993 and Rutgers in 2000).
