Parker logging minutes for U.S.

VALDIVIA, Chile — The United States women’s national team was awfully stingy Friday in the FIBA Americas tournament.

The U.S. held Canada to single-digits across the final three quarters of an 85-37 rout that clinched the top seed in Group B for the Americans.

In today’s semifinals, they will play Argentina, the second-place finisher in Group A after beating host Chile in overtime 66-63 late Friday.

After a sluggish start that saw the United States (3-0) up 17-13 after the first quarter, the Americans outscored the Canadians 21-6 to take a 38-19 halftime lead.

The U.S. team held Canada to just 23.8 percent field goal shooting (15-for-63) and helped force 23 turnovers.

“To hold that caliber of a team to as few points as we allowed them was a great effort,’’ said Tennessee Lady Vols star Candace Parker.

U.S. coach Anne Donovan drew a correlation between Friday’s effort and Thursday’s 115-47 thrashing of Jamaica.

“Like yesterday’s game against Jamaica, I was very impressed that our girls never stopped either,’’ Donovan said. “Our defense got better as we went. We gave up a total of 18 points in the second half, and I thought did some really good things offensviely.”

Tina Thompson scored 14 points and Delisha Milton-Jones and Parker added 12. Parker shot 5 for 8 from the floor and had six rebounds and two steals. Former Lady Vol Kara Lawson had three points in 16 minutes.

Teresa Gabrielle scored seven points to lead Canada (1-2), which finished third in Group B.

Only the winner of the tournament will secure a bid to the 2008 Olympics in Beijing.

Another rout afforded the U.S. the chance to spread the playing minutes in order to stay fresh for the final two games. No player logged more than the 21 apiece by Parker and Tina Thompson while every player had at least 11 minutes.

“Five games in five days really lends itself to our strengths because of our depth," Lawson said. "We’re going to try and use that in these next two games.”