Aug. 8, 2012
Kevin Love's double-double to help lead the USA Men's Basketball team to the semifinals highlighted play for UCLA Olympians on Wednesday. Thursday will be a big day for Bruin players on the U.S. Women's Soccer and Women's Water Polo teams who will be going for gold.
Men's Basketball
Kevin Love finished with a double-double, logging 10 points and 11 rebounds, and Russell Westbrook chipped in with six points in 11 minutes to guide the USA men's basketball team past Australia, 119-86, in a quarterfinal contest on Wednesday evening. Love was one of six U.S. players to score in double figures and finished with eight offensive rebounds - as many as the entire Australian team.
Team USA led 28-21 after the first quarter and doubled its margin by halftime, securing a 56-42 cushion at the break. Both teams added 28 points in the third quarter, before Team USA pulled away in the final period by outscoring Australia, 35-16. The United States will play in the semifinals on Friday against Argentina. Game time is slated for 1pm PT. The winner of that game will face either Spain or Russia in Sunday's gold medal game.
Men's Water Polo
World No. 1 Croatia used a strong defensive effort to defeat Team USA 8-2 in the quarterfinals of the Olympic tournament on Wednesday at London's Water Polo Arena. Former UCLA player and current head coach of the Bruins' men's water polo team, Adam Wright, took two shots in 24 minutes of action and also had an assist, a field block and two steals. Former UCLA goalkeeper Chay Lapin did not play. Team USA (3-3) will now square off with Spain (3-3) in a 5-8 classification match on Friday, Aug. 10 at 6:20am PT. Spain lost to Montenegro 11-9 in its quarterfinal match today, a team that the Americans defeated 8-7 to open their Olympics on July 29. Against the other common opponent, Spain lost to Croatia 8-7 in pool play on July 31.
Track & Field
Two-time Olympian Jessica Cosby, the American record-holder in the hammer, finished seventh in group A and 14th overall with a throw of 228-6. She did not qualify to the finals. Three-time Olympian Yoo Kim, representing South Korea, no-heighted in the pole vault after failing to clear the opening height of 17-00.75.
Men's Volleyball
The USA men's volleyball team was eliminated in the quarterfinals after a 28-26, 25-20, 25-20 loss to Italy in the quarterfinals. UCLA men's volleyball head coach John Speraw and UCLA women's volleyball head coach Michael Sealy are on the coaching staff for Team USA.
UCLA Olympian Reception in London
UCLA Alumni in the UK will host a reception for UCLA Olympians, alumni and friends in Bloomsbury, UK on Thursday, Aug. 9 at 7:30pm BST. The event will take place at the October Gallery, London WC1. Confirmed guests include 1976 U.S. Olympic medalist and women's basketball legend Ann Meyers Drysdale, 2000 Olympic gymnastics medalist Tasha Schwikert and UCLA Gymnastics Head Coach Valorie Kondos Field. For more information or to RSVP, CLICK HERE.
London Log-In
UCLA men's volleyball head coach John Speraw shared another Olympic moment just prior to the U.S. team's quarterfinal match. Click here to read his latest blog entry.
News Links
Two-time Olympic medalist Dawn Harper talks with the NBC affiliate in her hometown of St. Louis about her silver medal win in the 100m hurdles - VIDEO.
Jim Caple puts focus on Dawn Harper's medal on ESPN.com, and the Star-Ledger notes the camaraderie of the three medal-winners in the 100m hurdles.
Dawn Harper's hometown of East St. Louis is "beaming with pride".
USA Water Polo Head Coach Adam Krikorian gets picked up by his team after a late-game mistake. Read more in the New York Post.
Coming Up Thursday
Women's Soccer - Team USA (Lauren Cheney, Sydney Leroux, Assistant Coach Jillian Ellis) faces off against Japan in a rematch of the 2011 World Cup Final. The stakes this time: an Olympic gold medal. The USA-Japan game will take place at Wembley Stadium at 11:30am PT on NBC Sports Network. Watch online here. Chelsea Stewart's Canadian team will face France in the bronze medal match at 5:00am PT, also live on NBC Sports Network. The Canada-France match can be streamed at NBCOlympics.com.
Women's Water Polo - Team USA (Courtney Mathewson, Kelly Rulon, head coach Adam Krikorian) plays for its first-ever gold medal against Spain at 12:00pm PT. The match will be televised on a delayed basis at 2:00pm PT but streamed live online at NBCOlympics.com.
Women's Volleyball - The U.S. (assistant coach Karch Kiraly) plays Korea in the semifinals for a chance to advance to the gold medal match. The match begins at 7:00am PT and will be aired delayed on NBC at 9:00am PT. Watch the match online here.
Track & Field - Five-time Olympian Amy Acuff competes in the qualification round for the high jump at 1:30am PT. Watch online at NBCOlympics.com.