1980 WOMEN'S FIBA OLYMPIC QUALIFYING TOURNAMENT

Varna, Bulgaria � May 5-12, 1980

Traveling to Varna, Bulgaria, for the Olympic Qualifying Tournament, 22 countries participated in the tourney that would determine the five countries that would qualify for the 1980 Olympics. The Soviet Union women did not compete in the Olympic Qualification Tournament. The Soviets had already qualified for the �80 Games as the host country and as the defending Olympic champions.

1980 USA Olympic Qualifying Team 1980 USA RESULTS (5-1) USA 68 Australia 57 USA 109 Hungary 79 USA 104 France 58 USA 85 Yugoslavia 84 South Korea 89 USA 88 USA 102 Czechoslovakia 66 1980 OLYMPIC QUALIFYING TOURNAMENT FINAL STANDINGS 1. USA (5-1) 8. Czechoslovakia (6-3) *Bulgaria (6-1) 9. South Korea (5-4) 3. *Cuba (6-2) 10. China (4-5) 4. *Yugoslavia (6-3) 10. Canada (2-4) 5. *Italy (6-3) 11. France (3-5)-5) 6. $Hungary (4-4) 12. Poland (2-5) 7. Canada (6-3) 13. Australia, Brazil, Fed. Rep. of Germany, Great Britain, Ireland, Japan, Mexico, Netherlands, Nigeria and Romania. *Qualified for the 1980 Olympic Games $Qualified for the 1980 Olympic Games because the U.S. withdrew

The American women posted an impressive 6-1 record to finish the tournament as co-champions with Bulgaria and
establish themselves as an Olympic favorite along with the Soviets.

Bettering their opponents by an average victory margin of 17.7 points a game, the USA�s lone setback was to South Korea in the semifinal group play by a single point, 89-88. The USA�s list of victims during the tournament included one-point wins over 1980 Olympic silver medalist Bulgaria, 76-75, and bronze medalist Yugoslavia, 85-84.

The USA opened play by dispatching its preliminary pool opponents Australia, 68-57, and Hungary, 109-79.

In the second round, which saw the top finishing squads from each of the two six-team pools earn the title of co-champion, the U.S. tossed France aside 104-58 to open the round. The American women then suffered the single-digit loss to South Korea and edged Yugoslavia by a point before closing the round and competition with a 102-66 trouncing of Czechoslovakia.

The second through sixth placed teams in each of the second round groups competed in the final classification round to determine the final three nations that would compete at the Moscow Olympics.

In addition to co-champions Bulgaria, advancing to the 1980 Olympics were (in order of finish) Cuba, Yugoslavia and Italy. With the USA not taking part in the 1980 Games, sixth place finisher Hungary was selected to replace the U.S. women�s team.

UCLA�s 6-1 standout forward Denise Curry emerged as the team�s main offensive threat, averaging 17.8 ppg. and 5.7 rpg. in the Olympic Qualifying Tournament. The USA also received strong offensive efforts from 6-5 Cindy Noble, 13.8 ppg. and 6.7 rpg., Rosie Walker, 12.7 ppg. and 5.7 rpg., as well as LaTaunya Pollard and Carol Blazejowski, 12.0 ppg. and 10.7 ppg., respectively.

The Soviet Union�s path to the gold medal proved even less challenging than in 1976. The USSR compiled an unblemished 6-0 record, winning all its games by 31 points or more. In the Olympic finals, the Soviets easily defeated Bulgaria 104-73 to earn the gold medal, and Yugoslavia captured the bronze medal after defeating Hungary 68-65.

1980 USA Women's Olympic Qualifying Team Cumulative Statistics