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US women beat Aussies to win basketball gold
US won a third consecutive women's basketball title, outlasting Australia 74-63 for gold to capture their fifth crown.
The United States won a third consecutive Olympic women's basketball title on Saturday, outlasting Australia 74-63 in the gold medal game to capture their fifth crown in the past six Games.
The US Dream Team of Women's National Basketball Association stars extended a 10-year American unbeaten streak in global tournaments to 43-0 since a 1994 World Championship semi-final loss to Brazil.
Tina Thompson scored 18 points and Dawn Staley added 14 for the US women, who extended their Olympic win streak to 25 games. The lone US Olympic loss in 40 games since 1976 was a 1992 Barcelona semi-final loss to the Unified Team.
The Aussies settled for the silver medal for the second Olympics in a row, having lost to the US women 76-54 in the 2000 final at Sydney. Russia defeated Brazil 71-62 to claim the bronze medal.
Penny Taylor scord 16 points to lead the Aussies while center Lauren Jackson, the WNBA Most Valuable Player, was kept to 12 points.
US women withstood their closest Olympic call since 1992 by beating Russia 66-62 in the semi-finals, then faced down a stubborn Aussie squad with a furious final quarter.
Australia went on a 12-1 run to seize a 34-30 lead 3:07 into the third quarter during a six-minute span in which the Americans went without a basket, serving notice the Opals were ready for a fight to the finish.
But the Aussies went silent for six minutes themselves starting late in the third quarter, the worst possible moment.
