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RIO DE JANEIRO -- Penny Taylor and her Australian teammates knew what was at stake.A win over France would put them in the drivers seat in Group A, meaning theyd potentially avoid playing the U.S. until the womens basketball gold medal game.Taylor helped them also get a measure of revenge in the process, scoring an Olympic career-high 31 points to help Australia beat France 89-71 on Tuesday.Its huge, Taylor said. We dont want to face the U.S. until we have to, so I think thats huge for us.This will be Taylors last shot at beating the U.S., and she would like that opportunity in meeting between the top teams in the gold medal game. The 35-year-old guard told The Associated Press before the Olympics started that she planned to retire at the end of the current WNBA season. Shes already has two silver medals at the Olympics and wants to go out with a gold.On Tuesday, she made her first seven shots and had scored 23 points before missing her first field goal attempt. She finished 10 of 13 from the field with nine assists and five rebounds.That was vintage Penny, Australian coach Brendan Joyce said. She was great and really lifted us.All that stands between Australia (3-0) and winning the group is Japan. Those teams play Thursday and a win by the Australians would clinch the No. 1 seed in its pool and avoid a matchup with the U.S. until the finals. The Australians respect the Americans but arent intimidated by the U.S., which has won the last five Olympic gold medals and a roster of WNBA All-Stars and MVPs.The heavily favored Americans have captured the headlines, but the venerable Opals continue to win .They have their own 6-foot-8 center in Liz Cambage, who has been dominant so far in the Olympics when she can stay out of foul trouble. They also have a few WNBA stars of their own in Taylor and Erin Phillips.We know what we will face if we play them eventually, Joyce said. We have a long tough road still before that happens and well worry about them when we face them.The road did get a little easier with the win over France. The Opals lost to the French in overtime in the London Games in 2012, costing them the top spot in the group. It was Australias only loss to a team other than the U.S. in the Olympics since 1996. Australia ended up with a bronze medal in London.We dont want to drop any pool round games, said Phillips, who scored nine points in Tuesdays win. Good thing about this team is we never get too high on a win or low on a loss. This win against France by 18 was huge. If you had told me this morning when I woke up and said we would beat France by 18, Id be really, really happy.Both Taylor and Phillips missed the 2012 Olympics. Taylor was out with a torn ACL and Phillips didnt make the team. They are both cherishing their Olympic experience.Its been amazing, gone really fast. I try to soak it up as much as I can when Im not playing, the 31-year-old Phillips said. In the dining hall you see Usain Bolt and some gymnasts who are the best in the world, its inspiring.You never really know what an Olympics mean until you miss one. Penny and I missed one for different reasons. To be back here makes it so much more memorable.---Follow Doug on Twitter at http://www.twitter.com/dougfeinberg Cheap Air Max 90 Trainers . Their 38th instalment is arguably their biggest fight card to date, including three-title fights and a main event which was selected by the fans. The promotion boasts 14-straight years of business and is operated by MFC president Mark Pavelich, who is often overlooked in this country for the foundation hes established for MMA in Canada. 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Junior Conor Rhoda is listed as the starter this week, and sophomore?Demry Croft?as the backup.?Leidner, a senior, has started 27 straight games and 34 overall in his career.Hes on the concussion protocol, so whenever he gets through that, then hell be cleared to play, Claeys said, adding: I dont want him to play until hes healthy, and Ill rely on doctors to tell me that.Leidner completed only 13 of 33 passes for 166 yards, with two interceptions, against the Hawkeyes. Wide receiver Rashad Still and defensive end Taiyon Devers were listed as out on the depth chart a week ago, and both of them were able to play by Saturday. Concussions are unpredictable, though, and Claeys didnt express any optimism that the fifth-year senior would progress in time to face the Terrapins.Wide receiver Drew Wolitarsky was already touting Rhodas attitude and ability while preparing for the new look.Obviously were going to miss Mitch out there, but hell still be at practice, coaching Rhoda up,, getting with him as well.ddddddddddddWere just going to take it with a grain of salt and go, Wolitarsky said, adding: Just to see the amount of work hes put in, and the amount of talent he came in with that hes really crafted, its amazing.Rhoda joined the program as a walk-on from Cretin-Derham Hall High School in St. Paul, just a few miles east of campus. His only action this season came in the fourth quarter of Minnesotas 58-28 win over?Indiana State, and he has attempted just two passes in his college career.Its going take us a couple days in practice to figure out the game plan and fitting it into what he does best, Claeys said.Claeys said the Gophers would prefer to use a redshirt season for Croft, who played a bit in relief of Leidner as a freshman. Leidner played through a painful left foot injury last year that required surgery.?Theres other leaders on that offense, said linebacker Nick Rallis. Its nothing to worry about. Thats what we got a team for, you know?Claeys also said starting right tackle Jonah Pirsig would miss two to three weeks with a high left ankle sprain.?The Associated Press contributed to this report.? ' ' '