Although Debbie McCormick's USA squad took a 2-0 lead over Italy in the first end, they were tied in the second and didn't lead again until the seventh. This game also went down to the last shot, an attempted triple by Italy's Diana Gaspari that would have, at best, scored two to force an extra end. Gaspari's hurried throw with only 34 seconds left on her team's clock was wide and left USA with a steal of three to account for the final margin.

The turning point for USA in this contest was a raise angle bump in the seventh end that resulted in a score of three, on a measure. "It's always nice to make a big shot and get the momentum back on our side," said McCormick, whose team also turned the tide against Denmark this morning with a three-point end.

"We kind of picked it back up in the last three ends," said second Natalie Nicholson. "The seventh was a well-played end. We made a lot of freezes and draws in that end."

The U.S. women seemed to have gotten off to a much better start than in their opening game, making a hit for two in the first end. But then, like in the morning draw, they struggled mightily to lock in on draw weight and judge the amount of curl.

The Italians, meanwhile, seemed to find their groove after getting shelled by the Czech Republic in round one, 11-1. Italy tied USA with a pair in the second, and then stole singles in each of the next two ends for a 4-2 lead. McCormick, after coming up inches short on a draw for one in the third fourth end, found the four-foot in the fifth to pull USA within 4-3 going into the break.

"In the beginning we just had some missed opportunities," said McCormick. "We'd be light or wreck on a guard, and then the opportunity would be gone."

The team made a strategic adjustment during the break that seemed to pay dividends, shifting one of the rocks that vice skip Allison Pottinger had been playing into Nicholson's hands. The rock had seemed to be coming up consistently shorter for Pottinger throughout the first half of the game.

"After that she seemed to get her shots in much better position," noted Nicholson.

The Americans were more consistent and on target overall in the sixth, with McCormick making a nice hit and roll to sit two with her last shot. Gaspari was able to get out of the end by drawing the four-foot for one and a 5-3 advantage.

After the momentum-changing seventh end, McCormick said the team talked about staying focused. "We just said, 'There's a lot of game left, so let's just keep it going and not let it get away from us,'" she commented.

USA got a break in the eighth when Italian vice skip Violetta Caldart (who was moved up from lead in the earlier game) attempted a tap back but instead nicked a guard and rolled out of the house, leaving USA counting two. Gaspari eventually made a hit for one to knot the game again, 6-6.

The Americans then fought for a game-controlling deuce in the ninth, culminating with an open hit after Italy barely missed a double takeout with its last rock. Up 8-6, USA stayed out of major trouble in the final end and left Italy with little to work with.

"We're pretty patient, and have a lot of experience, so I think that helps," said Nicholson.

"We don't expect any of these games to come easy," added McCormick. "Every country has improved so much. We know we can beat all of these teams here, but you have to play tough in every game.

The Chinese had reigning Olympic and two-time defending world champion Sweden on the ropes, tied 6-6 playing the finale end. But China gave Anette Norberg an open draw to the eight-foot for the win, and the Swede nailed it for a 7-6 final score. Japan improved to 2-0 with a 6-3 victory over Czech Republic, while Scotland notched its first win by stealing one in an extra end to defeat Switzerland, 8-7.

The round robin continues through Thursday as the 12 teams in the field battle for four playoff berths.

Live and on-demand video streaming from the World Curling Championships is available through a partnership between USA Curling, the World Curling Federation, Sports.com and MediaZone. More details can be found at www.usacurl.org.

Game scores: Draw 2 - Canada 9, Germany 1; Denmark 10, Russia 5; Czech Republic 11, Italy 1; Sweden 7, Scotland 5. Draw 3 - Japan 6, Czech Republic 3; Sweden 7, China 6; Scotland 8, Switzerland 7 (extra end); USA 11, Italy 6.

USA line scores:
USA 200 010 302 3 11
*DEN 021 101 010 0 6
*designates last-rock advantage in first end

Round robin standings
Canada 2-0
Japan 2-0
Sweden 2-0
USA 2-0
China 1-1
Czech Republic 1-1
Denmark 1-1
Scotland 1-2
Switzerland 1-2
Germany 0-2
Italy 0-2
Russia 0-2

USA Curling is sponsored by AIT Worldwide Logistics, AmerAust Technologies and Nike as well as by AT&T, General Motors, The Home Depot, and Bank of America through a joint marketing program with the U.S. Olympic Committee.

For more information: Rick Patzke, USA Curling, rick.patzke@usacurl.org.