BASKETBALL : `A REAL SENSE OF URGENCY' AMERICAN WOMEN MOTIVATED BY MEMORIES OF '94.

Byline: Mike Spence Colorado Springs Gazette Telegraph

They were in the wrong place. At the wrong time. In the midst of a victory party when they had no reason to celebrate.

The U.S. women's basketball team had just lost to Brazil by a frustrating 110-107 score in the semifinals of the 1994 World Championships.

By a quirk in the transportation schedule at the championships in Sydney, Australia, the downcast Americans and the jubilant Brazilians were on the same bus coming back from the game.

The Brazilians laughed and danced and, according to some, ridiculed the Americans.

``They were celebrating,'' U.S. coach Tara VanDerveer said. ``They had a right to celebrate. Maybe we shouldn't have been there.''

The memory of that night, and that moment, has been VanDerveer's motivation since she was named coach of USA Basketball's first-ever full-time women's national team in the spring of 1995.

VanDerveer and her athletes have devoted all of their energy, their time and their attention to one goal - winning the gold medal - in the year since the team was put together.

Today at the Georgia Dome, Team USA will play for that gold medal - against defending world-champion Brazil.

Eight members of the 1994 team made the 1996 U.S. Olympic team. VanDerveer hopes that will be a motivating factor.

``I don't know if they (Brazilians) rubbed us the wrong way, losing just rubbed us the wrong way period,'' U.S. forward Katrina McClain said. ``That's the type of team they are. They're psyched and when they win, they celebrate. They do cartwheels, they do everything.''

Beating Brazil won't be easy. The Brazilians match up with the Americans in size and athletic ability. Like the U.S. team, they play an up-tempo style. Unlike the Americans, however, they shoot well from the outside.

``I feel a real sense of urgency,'' VanDerveer said. ``We've got a lot of work to do. We have to come out and play well, and we can't slop through it. We can't just come out and show up and expect to beat this team. They're really, really competitive.''

Brazil is led by 37-year-old Hortencia Marcari Oliva, a 5-foot-8 shooting guard, and Maria Paula de Silva, another 5-8 guard. Oliva scored 32 points and de Silva 29 in the 1994 game.

The Brazilians also feature 6-5 center Alessandra Oliveira and 6-2 forward Marta De Sooza Sobral.

The U.S. team counters with four-time Olympian Teresa Edwards, a 5-11 guard, who is leading the Olympic tournament in assists at 6.8 per game. Former USC star Lisa Leslie, a 6-5 center, leads the Americans in scoring at 17.5 points per game. McClain has added inside strength, averaging 7.8 rebounds and 12.5 points per game.

When the U.S. team has needed outside firepower, it has relied upon guards Ruthie Bolton (12.5 ppg) and Sheryl Swoopes (12.0 ppg).

Edwards, however, said offense won't win this game. Defense is the key.

``What people are forgetting is what we can do,'' Edwards said. ``One of our strengths is our defense. I think we can give them problems.''

Both teams are 7-0 in the Olympic tournament. But the Americans go into the game with a slight edge, having won 52 consecutive games on a demanding pre-Olympic schedule.

Yet, not everyone thinks the U.S. is an overwhelming favorite.

``They can be beaten,'' Australian coach Thomas Maher said. ``We had trouble matching up with them physically, but Brazil can stay with them. It will be an interesting game.''

And one that will be emotional from the opening tip.