USA picks up first win at 2012 Women's Worlds

March 19, 2012
Team USA has started a win streak at the 2012 Ford World Women's Championship and Scotland was the first victim in what the Americans hope will be a long run in search of USA's first world championship title since 2003.

USA skip Allison Pottinger (Eden Prairie, Minn.) was a member of that historic team that captured USA first-ever women's world championship gold medal in Winnipeg. If USA wants to reach the playoffs, they'll have to continue their winning ways.

"This was a lot better. We just decided 'Let's finally stop worrying about it and play our game,' and we came out firing and ready to go. It's a lot more fun, I gotta be honest," Pottinger said. "I think we're starting to feel really good about the broom and about the rocks. I think we're just going to start rolling now."

Tonight's match with Eve Muirhead's Scottish ladies was just the first step as Pottinger and teammates Nicole Joraanstad (Verona, Wis.), Natalie Nicholson (Bemidji, Minn.) and Tabitha Peterson (Eagan, Minn.) earned a 7-2 win.

"It's been ... challenging. I feel like we've actually been playing well, and people are just playing better, and that's always frustrating. So it does feel good to get a 'W,'" said Nicholson, 36, who is playing in her eighth world women's championship. "It would be one thing if we were playing like dog-meat and struggling. But we just have to stay on it. We're not out; four losses could put you in a tiebreaker. But there's nothing you can do about it. So you just have to keep playing how you want to play. Plus, you want to perform well. We've worked hard together as a team and you just want to do your best all the time."

To read the complete press release, click on the PDF below.

Source: 
USA Curling
Author: 
Terry Kolesar