OLYMPICS: Collegians Get a Taste of Professional Basketball

While the USA Basketball Women's Select Team, comprised of the nation's top college players, cruised to a 4-0 record in Taiwan during Jones Cup action over a month ago, they had a different objective last Sunday evening.

These collegians had the opportunity to play against the USA Basketball Women's Senior National Team, arguably the best women's basketball team ever assembled. The Senior National Team, made up of the best players of the WNBA, would make their final stop in Honolulu, Hawaii and go up against the USA Select Team before jetting off to Australia to participate in the upcoming Olympics in Sydney, Australia.

If the Select Team didn't know what professional basketball is like, they sure do now.

The Senior National Team romped the Select Team by a score of 97-31, holding the collegians to under 21% from the field and outrebouding the smaller team 39-23.

The National Team was led in scoring by former Tennesse star Chamique Holdsclaw who tallied 14 points, with Lisa Leslie and Yolanda Griffith adding 12 points each. Not one player from the Select Team broke into double digits. Kelly Schumacher (UCONN) led the squad with 8 points and sharp-shooter Jackie Stiles (SMS) added 7 points.

The collegians had hoped to keep the game close and actually scored the first basket of the game, but it was all National Team after that, going on a 28-3 run to put the game out of reach.

Players from the Senior National Team were able to run the floor and score at will, while the Select Team struggled to even get a shot off. Most likely, they'll be looking forward to getting back to playing against college teams, where each of these players tend to dominate.

However, it was an eye-opening experience to play the best in the world. At least they each know where they stand now.

Both of the leading scorers for the Select Team, among others, proved they could play with the National Team. Schumacher was 4-4 from the field and Jackie Stiles, while not having a terrific shooting night, was able to drive down low and get to the free throw line several times and make 5 of 6 from the charity stripe. Stiles, although only a 5'8" guard, was one of few that was able to create a shot for herself and shoot the ball over the defense. Several other Select Team members merely had their shot swatted back in their faces.

But, at least they can say they've play the best in the world. How many of us can say that?