SYDNEY – The USA women’s basketball team smoked Havana’s finest yesterday, beating a talented Cuban team with hard work, crisp passes, hustle and pinpoint execution.

The hard-fought 90-61 win, saw each player contribute, in stark contrast to the uneven effort put forth in game one. When it hits on all cylinders, as the team did tonight, it shows just how potent a collection of talent Team USA has at its disposal.

Katie Smith, who had been a bit player through much of the pre-Olympic tour, stepped up when called upon and hit all six of her shots, including three 3-pointers. Teresa Edwards, the five-time Olympian, chipped in 13 points and flashed some speed and moves to the hoop that some thought she had lost. Team USA also worked its tail off on defense, leading to nine steals and only 19 points allowed in the second half.

“I was very pleased with how we came out in the second half after making adjustments at the half,” coach Nell Fortner said after the game, in perhaps the biggest understatement of the day.

In the first half, Cuban star Yamilet Martinez caused trouble, as Lisa Leslie was forced to sit most of the half because of early foul trouble. So Team USA played more zone in the second half and dropped a player down low to frustrate Martinez, who had her way with the ball early on and had Cuba ahead at the 10-minute mark, 23-21 in the first. It worked like a charm.

Team USA, making subtle changes and freeing up Smith for some open looks, took the lead for the first time with 10:05 left in the half when Smith nailed a trey. It was the longest the team had gone without leading in recent memory.

Once it had the lead, Smith and company went for the kill. The 5-11 guard scored six points in a 12-3 run that put Team USA ahead by six at the break. After a 12-0 run early in the second half, with the revamped defense doing the trick, it was hasta la vista Senor Fidel.

In fact, it was a sort of a double-header win for Team USA over Elian Gonzalez’s home country as the Team USA softball squad beat Cuba 3-0.

While Team USA was lethargic in game one, standing around on offense, banging shots off the front of the rim and committing a 30-second violation as a result, it was Cuba which were the spectators tonight.

“Playing on a team like this is great,” Smith said after her big night. “I really didn’t have to force any shots tonight because I got so many open looks.”

Although proving she can play as well as any person on the team, Smith said she was happy with her off-the-bench role and would take any minutes she can get.