RIO DE JANEIRO -- U.S. womens water polo coach Adam Krikorian shook his head in disgust after an ugly turnover in the third. He put in five new swimmers after China scored in the fourth, and then clapped his hands at his bench as if trying for a late wake-up call.And it hardly mattered. The United States was in complete control right from the start, never in danger of losing to overmatched China. It turns out winning isnt the only thing for the defending world and Olympic champions.Were more concerned with how we play and trying to be as consistent as possible, Krikorian said after the United States 12-4 victory on Thursday. I dont think I saw that in the second half and when you play every other day, theres no reason to rest. Were getting plenty of rest on our off days and we just got to keep it into a high gear there.The United States improved to 36-2 in 2016 with its 18th straight victory, rolling to titles on three continents before beating Spain 11-4 in its Olympic opener on Tuesday. It has scored in double figures 17 times during its win streak, totaling 231 goals overall and outscoring opponents by an average of seven goals.But captain Maggie Steffens dismissed any notion of complacency as the U.S. tries to become the first country to win consecutive Olympic titles in womens water polo.Each game is a gold-medal game, Steffens said. Each game is an opportunity for us to represent the USA, and thats the motivation.Steffens scored three of her four goals as the United States jumped to a 7-1 lead at the break. But it grew more careless with the ball as the game went along, including the third-quarter turnover during a rare 6-on-4 power play that prompted Krikorians exasperated reaction.We had too many turnovers that game, U.S. attacker Kaleigh Gilchrist said. China capitalized on a few, but they could have capitalized on a lot more, and knowing as we go ahead opponents are going to try to look to do that, so we have to tighten a few things up.The United States only two losses so far this year are to Australia, 5-4 on May 26 in California and 5-4 on May 31 in China. But the Aussie Stingers lost 8-7 to Italy on Thursday, a potentially costly result that could force them into a semifinal matchup with the United States.Australias Rowie Webster tied it at 7 with 2:37 to go, but Roberta Bianconi had a power-play goal for Italy with 34 seconds remaining.I think the game was won and lost in the extra-man goals that they scored and we potentially missed, Webster said.Australia faces winless Brazil on Saturday on the final day of the preliminary round. Italy, which leads Group A with four points, takes on Russia, Spain plays against China, and the United States faces Hungary. The quarterfinals begin Monday.Italys Giulia Gorlero, splashing the water at times in celebration or frustration, had 10 saves in the victory over the Aussies.Our match is very important for us, Golero said through a translator. But thats not enough. ... Our tournament starts in the quarterfinals.Also Thursday, Ekaterina Prokofyeva and Evgeniya Ivanova scored three goals apiece to lead Russia to a 14-7 win against Brazil, and Judith Forca Ariza scored in the fourth to help Spain hold on for an 11-10 victory over Hungary.---Jay Cohen can be reached at http://www.twitter.com/jcohenap Wholesale Asics Shoes .C. -- Kemba Walker and the Charlotte Bobcats got off to a fast start, and the Sacramento Kings were never quite able to catch up. Asics Shoes From China . Jordan Lynch, the all-purpose Heisman Trophy finalist from Northern Illinois, failed to make it into that exclusive club. http://www.cheapasics.com/ . -- Brandon Jennings made the most of his first game with the Detroit Pistons on Sunday night. Cheap Asics Shoes . One game after a miserable showing in Oklahoma City, Gay tied a career high with 41 points and the Sacramento Kings cruised to a 114-97 victory at the New Orleans Pelicans on Tuesday night. Cheap Asics Shoes From China . The Redskins announced Monday that the quarterback who led the team to the Super Bowl championship in the 1987 season will serve as a personnel executive. Zimbabwe quicks Tendai Chatara and Tinashe Panyangara are unfit, and hence have not been picked for the upcoming home Tests against Sri Lanka. Chris Mpofu, who last played a Test nearly five years ago, and uncapped seamer Carl Mumba were named in the 16-man squad. Another uncapped player - batsman Tarisai Musakanda - was picked; both Mumba and Musakanda represented Zimbabwe A against Pakistan A earlier this month. Senior batsman Vusi Sibanda still did not find a place in the Test squad, and spinner John Nyumbu was also dropped after he went wicketless in the second Test against New Zealand. Malcolm Waller returned to the Test side after scoring four straight half-centuries against Pakistan A in three 50-over and one first-class match.Chatara had fractured his left leg last year and healed to play the ODIs and T20s againt India at home in June 2016. He was named for the two home New Zealand Tests after that but had to pull out because of an ankle injury he picked up in the warm-up game against New Zealanders. Panyangara, on the other hand, failed to recover ffrom his lower-back injury.ddddddddddddMichael Chinouya was recalled at the time to play New Zealand and continued to keep his place despite picking only three wickets in three innings against them.Mumba, 21, has played 16 first-class matches for 59 wickets at an impressive average of 17.37. Musakanda, another 21-year-old, has 12 first-class matches to his name in which he has scored 607 runs at 27.59 and five fifties.Zimbabwes batting line-up looked more settled as Hamilton Masakadza returned after missing the second Test against New Zealand due to a back injury. But there was no place for Chamu Chibhabha, which meant it was not certain who would open with Tino Mawoyo.Test squad Graeme Cremer (capt.), Tino Mawoyo, Hamilton Masakadza, Craig Ervine, Sean Williams, Regis Chakabva, Peter Moor, Donald Tiripano, Chris Mpofu, Taurai Muzarabani, Michael Chinouya, Brian Chari, Sikandar Raza, Malcolm Waller, Carl Mumba, Tarisai Musakanda. ' ' '