USA’s defense stifles Canada in exhibition

Diana Taurasi scored 14 points and Elena Delle Donne added 12 to help the U.S. women’s basketball team beat Canada, 83-43, Friday night in an exhibition game at Webster Bank Arena in Bridgeport, Conn.

After struggling in their first two exhibition games in the first half, the Americans jumped all over their neighbors to the north.

The U.S. women only had a three-point lead on the select team in their pre-Olympic tour opener Monday and led France by one Wednesday at the half. The Americans wouldn’t let that happen against Canada.

Geno Auriemma started the five Connecticut alums much to the delight of the Connecticut fans who turned out in force to send off the Americans to the Rio Olympics next week. Diana Taurasi, Sue Bird, Maya Moore, Tina Charles and Breanna Stewart struggled a little offensively when they were in, but defensively they shut down Canada.

The Canadians missed 13 of their first 14 shots and couldn’t recover from the slow start, trailing by 13 after one quarter and 24 at the half.

Final review before Rio

Less than a week before the opening of the Olympics, International Olympic Committee leaders are meeting in Rio de Janeiro this weekend to review the final preparations for the Games and deal with the fallout from the doping scandal that has led to the exclusion of more than 100 Russian athletes.

The IOC’s ruling executive board opens a two-day meeting today, its final formal gathering before next the opening ceremony Friday at Maracana stadium.

Russia’s eight-member weightlifting team was kicked out of the Games Friday for doping results.