The US Women's team will look to maintain its perfect record on the fifth and final day of preliminary Wheelchair Basketball games on Thursday, September 11. The top four teams from both groups will advance to the quarterfinals.
Brazil vs. United States (Group A)
? Brazil is 0-3, having lost to Australia, Germany and Great Britain.
? Following Brazil's lost to Great Britain on Tuesday, center Lia Soares Martins said the tournament offers them an opportunity to learn from the world's strongest teams, and that Brazil wants to improve their offensive play.
? The United States won its three matches, allowing opponents Germany, Australia and Great Britain to score an average of 37 points per game.
? One of the US team's virtues is not depending on any player's scoring. None of the players averages in double figures in points. Jen Ruddell is the team's top scorer with 9.3 points per game.
Great Britain vs. Germany (Group A)
? Great Britain has a 1-2 record. The team suffered two heavy losses (Australia and the USA) and easily beat Brazil.
? Clare Strange of Great Britain is the seventh top assistant of the tournament. The guard averages three assists and seven points per game.
? Germany's win over Australia on Wednesday gave it a tournament record of 2-1. In previous play the Germans defeated Brazil and lost to the USA.
? Guard Annika Zeyen said defeating Great Britain is a must. "We have to beat them," Zeyen said. "We have played them in warm-up games and beat them every time."
Mexico vs. Canada (Group B)
? Mexico is 0-3 in the tournament, with losses to Japan, China and the Netherlands.
? In Mexico's loss to China on Tuesday, forward Lucia Vazquez Delgadillo earned 23 of Mexico's 37 points.
? Canada's 62-44 win over China on Wednesday makes the team 2-1 in the tournament, having previously defeated the Netherlands and lost to Japan.
? Following Canada's win over China on Wednesday, center Misty Thomas said, "We have a great deal of respect for Mexico. They play hard. We hope to go out there as strong and as sharp as we were today."
China vs. the Netherlands (Group B)
? China is 1-2 so far, registering a win against Mexico and losses against Japan and Canada.
? Following China's loss to Canada on Wednesday, guard Li Yanhua said the Chinese team needs more cooperation among its players. "The team was organized last year, and we have a lot room to improve," Li said.
? The Netherlands is 1-2 in the tournament, after beating Mexico in its opener and losing to Japan and Canada.
? Dutch player Elsbeth van Oostrom sits seventh in tournament scoring, averaging 12.7 points per game. The center also averages seven rebounds per game.
(BOCOG September 10, 2008)