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BASKETBALL: US women reach fourth straight gold medal game

Diana Taurasi scored 21 points and the US women’s basketball team beat Russia 67-52 yesterday to advance to their fourth straight Olympic gold medal game.

The Americans will face either Australia or China tomorrow as they try to win an unprecedented fourth straight gold.

The US had been averaging 99.2 points as they cruised through the first six games, winning by 43 points a contest. However the Americans had not played a team as good as Russia, who had been inconsistent during the Olympics, barely winning games in pool play.

The Russians gave the Americans their closest game of the tournament.

For nearly 23 minutes Russia gave the US all they could handle, taking a 38-33 lead on Maria Stepanova’s bankshot with 7 minutes, 17 seconds left in the third quarter. Then the Americans took over, scoring the next 12 points. Tina Thompson, who had 15 points, hit a tough turnaround to start the run. A three-pointer by Katie Smith and Taurasi and two layups by Thompson and Lisa Leslie gave the US a 45-38 cushion.

Stepanova finally ended Russia’s drought with a foul line jumper with 3 minutes, 25 seconds left in the period. It was the last points they would score in the period as the US led 48-40 after three quarters.

Russia could get no closer than nine in the fourth quarter as the US pulled away.

Stepanova scored 14 points to lead Russia, who will play in the bronze medal game.

US-born Becky Hammon, a naturalized Russian citizen, did not score until making a free throw with 9 minutes, 30 seconds left in the game. She did not hit her first basket until 2 minutes, 52 seconds was left and Russia were down by 14. She finished the game with three points going one-for-six from the field.
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