BEIJING — The real competition is on the other side of the bracket in the women's basketball event at the Beijing Olympic Games.

So the USA women's team simply handled Pool B business late Wednesday night by beating Mali, 97-41, at the Beijing Olympic Basketball Gymnasium.

USA veteran Lisa Leslie, a three-time gold medalist before the Games, scored 10 of her 16 points in the first half.

Mali lost Hamchetou Maiga, its best player, for the rest of the tournament when she tore a ligament in her ankle against the Czech Republic.

But Mali led 8-7 early after draining a couple of 3s, forcing U.S. head coach Anne Donovan to call a timeout with 5:34 left in the first quarter.

It was a blip on the radar. The U.S. doubled up the Malians by the end of the quarter, 24-12, while making 10 of its first 15 shots.

Mali was overmatched but the Chinese fans in attendance took a powerful shine to the team.

The locals cheered the Malians through one stretch right before halftime when Aminata Sininta and Fatoumata Bagayoko nailed back-to-back 3s.

The U.S. still led by 21 at that point until Cappie Pondexter hit a jumper for two of her 10 points to give the Americans a 51-28 halftime cushion.