Former Gophers basketball player Lindsay Whalen and the rest of the U.S. national team won their first game in the Olympics on Saturday, beating Croatia 81-56.

The game was not a blowout by the heavily favored Americans. Croatia outscored the U.S. in the second quarter and took the lead for the first time in the game. Croatia narrowed the gap to one point in the third quarter. However, the U.S. pulled away in the fourth quarter, scoring 28 points to Croatia’s nine points.

Whalen contributed nine points in 19 minutes on the court. Her Lynx teammates Maya Moore and Seimone Augustus also earned some playing time with four points in 12 minutes and two points in 18 minutes, respectively. Whalen and Moore had two assists while Augustus had one. None of the Minnesota contingent started the game.

The U.S.’s next game is Monday against Angola. Angola lost 72-50 to Turkey on Saturday.

-Originally reported July 28, 2012