Basketball: US prevails over fighting Russia for final spot

(China Daily)
Updated: 2008-08-22 06:53

The US made it through to the women's basketball final last night but faced a stiff examination from opponents Russia.

The hot favorites eventually overcame a defiant Russian side and will meet Australia in the final tomorrow, setting up the possibility of a fourth consecutive gold medal win.

The game was closer than the Americans might have liked with the margin of victory just 67-52.

In the other semifinal, Australia easily beat China 90-56.

All eyes were on the Americans, however. In its first six games in the tournament the US had been averaging 99.2 points - its closest game being a 38-point rout of Spain.

Last night it was a very different Russia from that which had played in the earlier rounds.

It had coped poorly in the pool games and had trailed Spain in the quarterfinals before securing a late victory.

For nearly 23 minutes, Russia gave the US all it could handle, taking a 38-33 lead on Maria Stepanova's bank shot with 7:17 left in the third quarter.

Then the Americans scored the next 12 points. Thompson hit a tough turnaround jump shot to start the run.

A 3-pointer by Katie Smith and another by Diana Taurasi, layups by Thompson and Lisa Leslie gave the US a 45-38 cushion.

In the final stages, Diana Taurasi scored 21 points and Tina Thompson added 15 to help the US pull away from Russia.

US player Candace Parker said after the match that the Americans were in unstoppable form.

"From top to bottom, one through 12, we're the best," she said.

"We're the deepest. We just reload whenever we come out. We were never nervous.

"We didn't panic. We took care of business."

China will face Russia in the bronze medal game, also tomorrow.

Agencies

(China Daily 08/22/2008 page14)