PARIS, France — The United States women's 3x3 basketball team finally won its first game at the Paris Olympics on Thursday.
The defending champions defeated Spain by a final of 17-11 to improve its record to 1-3 in pool play games. The win comes after two losses to Germany and Azerbaijan in games that the United States were favored in.
The Atlanta Dream's Rhyne Howard scored five points, draining one two-pointer and helping energize Team USA en route to the victory. Former LSU standout and current TCU player Hailey Van Lith also dropped in five points, with one two-pointer. The pair led the team in scoring.
Howard also collected four rebounds as she finally showed off her shooting abilities after struggling through the first several games for Team USA.
The win comes after Team USA fell to Germany 17-13 in the opening game of pool play in 3x3 basketball at the Paris Olympics.
In the second game, Tiffany Hayes, who plays for the WNBA's Las Vegas Aces, scored 11 points, including the go-ahead basket late, to lead Azerbaijan to a 20-17 win over the U.S.
The win on Thursday came after the U.S. fell to 0-3 in pool play games with a loss to Australia by a final of 17-15.
On Friday, the United States will battle France in a fourth pool play game at 7 a.m., before playing Canada at noon.
