BEIJING (AP):

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 try to win an unprecedented fourth straight gold tomorrow against Australia, who beat China 90-56 in the other semi-final.

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 hadn't 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 Olympics.

For nearly 23 minutes Russia gave the US all they could handle taking a 38-33 lead on Maria Stepanova's bankshot with 7:17 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 3:25 left in the period. It was the last points they'd score in the period as the US led 48-40 after three quarters.

No closer than nine

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

Meanwhile, Belinda Snell has scored 16 points to help Australia beat hosts China 90-56 and reach the Olympic gold medal game for the third straight time.

Lauren Jackson adds 11 points and 10 rebounds for the Australians, who were without Penny Taylor.

The team's third-leading scorer is sidelined with a sprained ankle suffered in the quarter-final win over the Czech Republic.

It's unclear whether she will be ready to face the US in the final.

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