The Coaching Nelson Isley Said... Hortência Was the Best Player by Some Distance he Has Ever Seen.

The GOAT http://www.fiba.basketball/womensbasketballworldcup/2018/news/hall-of-famer-hortencia-crowned-fibawwc-goat-in-fan-vote TENERIFE (FIBA Women's Basketball World Cup 2018) - Fans have chosen Hortência the legend as the FIBA Women's Basketball World Cup Greatest of All Time, aka GOAT. Inducted into the FIBA Hall of Fame during 2007 (see main image), she was the only member among the star-laden list of contenders, to have this honor on her resume. Marcari was the runaway winner in the poll as she collected more than 85% of the votes from fans, with Australia legend Lauren Jackson the next highest in the voting. Helping her country to the top step of the podium in 1994 was the standout accomplishment, with Marcari pouring in a stellar 27.6 points per game – including 32 points in the famous 100-107 win against USA to book a ticket to the Finals. She Scored 124 points in a game and in Brazil Vs Cuba-Hortência Scored 54 points. Brazilian Star Sizzles On the Court-By WILLIAM C. RHODEN, Special to the New York Times Like other famous Brazilian athletes -- Pele in soccer, Oscar in basketball -- both are known by one name: Hortencia and Magic Paula, something like Magic and Michael both trying to lead a United States men's basketball team. Hortência Maria de Fátima Marcari born September 23, 1959 INDIANAPOLIS, Except for a blue ribbon tied just under the right knee, there is nothing about her appearance that suggests athletic majesty. She is not that tall, a stringy 5 feet 8 inches, her hands are not exceptionally large and her physique isn't particularly imposing. In fact, most people would look at her and never guess she is a national sports heroine. Bring up basketball, however, or tell her that the United States is favored to win the women's competition at the Pan American Games, and it turns around. The eyes narrow, the face tightens, the smile disappears. For the last 11 years, Hortencia Marcari has delighted audiences and punctured defenses with pinpoint shooting and acrobatic drives to the basket. But for all of the manuevers, the thing that makes Hortencia - like many Brazilian athletes, she uses only a single name - such a ferocious competitor is her approach to the game. She has adopted what United States players refer to as a ''playground head'' - aggression as well as flair. 'I Love the Challenge' ''The thing I love most about basketball is the competition,'' she said. As she talks her open hand becomes a fist. She leans forward and makes her point with animated body movements, as if she were moving through a series of picks for an open jump shot. ''I love the challenge,'' she said. ''The individual against the individual.'' Against Peru in Brazil's opening-round game today, the 27-year-old guard, playing on a sore left ankle, scored 37 points as Brazil won, 117-48. Hortencia seized control of the game in the opening minutes. Disgusted after letting a pass slip through her hands, she grabbed the loose ball and angrily flipped it back to where she thought the official was standing. The ball smacked a Peruvian player in the face and floored her. Hortencia. expressionless, looked down, extended a hand, shrugged and headed down the court. She would be involved in three violent collisions, each time springing up and going about the business of playing basketball. ''She's so exciting to watch,'' said Teresa Edwards, the explosive point guard on the United States team. Edwards, a 5-11 senior at Georgia, recalled trying to guard Hortencia in 1983. ''I didn't stop her - the entire team had to stop her,'' Edwards said. ''We designed a crazy defense for her -like three people playing zone, two people playing her. She's quick and she's always moving. And she's a tremendous shooter. She can shoot the daylights out of the ball.'' 120 Points in One Game Last month, in the Sao Paulo city championship, Hortencia scored 120 points in her team's 251-27 victory. A more realistic measure of her talent came last June in a game against Tennessee, the defending women's National Collegiate Athletic Association champion. Hortencia made 10 of 14 shots from the field and scored 34 points as Brazil routed the Lady Vols, 105-68. ''She's just so great without the ball, she really reminds me of Larry Bird,'' said Pat Summitt, the Tennessee head coach. ''It's what she does on offense without the ball that makes the difference.'' The meeting between Brazil and the United States here Saturday will be a much stiffer test and one of the classic matches of the Pan Am games.