Rui Machida played an instrumental role in getting Japan into its first Olympic basketball gold medal game, the diminutive point guard pulling the strings in a historic 87-71 women's semifinal win over France on Friday.Machida scored just nine points at Saitama Super Arena, but created many more with her 18 assists, probing the paint with her tight handle to create opportunities for the women in white and red."I am very happy," said Machida when asked about setting a new Olympic women's assist record, bettering the previous high of 16. "I didn't hear (the announcement about the record) but …READ FULL ARTICLE
