Parker, U.S. get past close call against Cuba

VALDIVIA, Chile - While Candace Parker scored the most points, Katie Smith hit the big shots for the U.S. women's basketball team Wednesday.

Tennessee Lady Vol Parker scored 21 and Smith, who plays for the WNBA's Detroit Shock, added two crunch-time 3-pointers to help the U.S hold off Cuba 85-79 in its opening game at the FIBA Americas tournament.

With the score tied at 71 with just over four minutes remaining, Smith hit consecutive treys over Cuba's zone defense, converting off passes from point guard Sue Bird, who had nine assists.

"I'm glad I could do my part," said Smith, who finished with 13 points. "It gave us a little energy when it was needed, but I got some good picks from my teammates in that zone."

Parker put Smith's shots into their proper perspective.

"Huge; they were huge,'' Parker said. "We really needed her to hit them and she knocked them down."

Cuba answered with a basket to close the gap to four, but Parker, who shot 9 for 12 from the floor and averaging nearly a point for her 20 playing minutes, made one of two free throws. Seimone Augustus added a layup and Parker knocked down a jumper to put the game away.

Parker also had four rebounds and two blocks. Former Lady Vol Kara Lawson scored two points in 12 minutes.

"I think it was a great win for us," said U.S. coach Anne Donovan. "Cuba is a great team and we've known that for a long time, they're very solid. The difference between this game and games in the past is that we've come out strong and shot the ball real well in the first quarter to make them lose confidence in themselves. Tonight that wasn't the case."

The U.S., which is 6-0 against Cuba, trailed by one at halftime and 58-55 entering the final quarter.

"Cuba came out really high and it was a tough game for us,'' Parker said. "But a win is a win. We fought back, we had people knock down big shots and make great defensive plays when we needed it."

Diana Taurasi scored 16 points for the U.S. (1-0).

Yakelyn Plutin led Cuba (0-1) with 23 points and 10 rebounds.

After finishing third at the World Championships, the United States was forced to play in the FIBA Americas tournament. Only the tournament winner earns an automatic bid to the 2008 Olympics in Beijing.

The United States will face Jamaica today. Jamaica lost to Canada 68-47 in its opener.