Taurasi provides the spark

Her 21 points lead US past pesky Russia

BEIJING - During her days at the University of Connecticut, Diana Taurasi often came up with the big game when needed. And when the United States women's basketball team desperately needed a big game last night, Taurasi stepped up again to put her country back in the gold medal game.

Taurasi sparked the Americans with a game-high 21 points and nailed five 3-pointers in a 67-52 victory over Russia in the semifinals at the Olympic Basketball Gymnasium. The United States (6-0) will play rival Australia, which defeated China, 90-56, for the gold medal tomorrow night. The Americans are vying for their fourth straight gold medal and have defeated Australia for the title the last two Olympics.

"It's just one of those games where you knock down shots in times when you need them," said Taurasi, who made 7 of 12 field goal attempts and grabbed nine rebounds. "That's the beauty of our team. On any given night, someone can step up and do it. Tonight was my turn."

The Americans have won every gold medal in the Olympics since 1996, but took bronze in their last major competition, the 2006 World Championships. Before last night's game, US coach Anne Donovan showed her team the disappointing bronze medal earned two years ago as a reminder.

"Coach Donovan pulled it out of her pocket," Taurasi said. "Really, it was a [terrible] feeling to take you back to that locker room two years ago. It really was a terrible feeling."

The Russians held a 16-13 lead after the first quarter and gave the US its first real challenge of the Olympics. The Americans responded by outscoring Russia, 20-16, in the second quarter to take a 33-32 halftime lead. The US outscored Russia, 15-8, in the third quarter to take a 48-40 lead, essentially thwarting Russia's challenge.

"There always comes a point where a team is going to break," Taurasi said. "You might not be able to see it on the scoreboard, but you can feel it. Today we sustained it longer."

US forward Tina Thompson added 15 points and nailed three 3-pointers. Former UConn star Sue Bird was scoreless in 24 minutes, but had 4 rebounds, 2 assists, and 3 steals.

"We knew it was coming," Taurasi said about Russia's challenge. "You get a sense that if you win the Olympics, it won't be because you win the early games by a lot. Once you get to this point, there are no bad teams.

"There are four really, really good teams. We knew it was going to be tough and we handled it."

The US can earn its 50th triumph in its eighth Olympics, against only three losses. The Americans can also win their sixth Olympic gold medal and haven't lost in the Games since the semifinals of the 1992 Games.

"It's been an amazing testament to how hard it is and the dedication that we've had over the last 20 years to have the people want to play for USA Basketball, feeling the responsibility to represent your country and actually doing it," Taurasi said. "It all started way back with Dawn [Staley] and even way before that with Teresa Edwards and Ann Meyers. It kind of just is a passing down the torch."

An interesting subplot involved Becky Hammon, a South Dakota native who plays professionally in the WNBA and Russia. She accepted an invitation to play for Russia after she felt she wouldn't get selected to play for the US. Hammon finished with 3 points on 1-of-6 shooting, 1 rebound, and 1 assist in 24 minutes.

"The [US] national anthem for me was no different than the thousands of times I've heard it before," Hammon said. "It meant just as much today as it did when I was in high school, grade school."

Hammon added that she loves the United States, although she has been criticized for being unpatriotic, including by Donovan.

"I know all those [US] girls," Hammon said. "I've talked to most of them. It's just a big game because it's a semifinals game in the Olympics, not necessarily me and the whole United States. This was a game that was bigger than me and a national fiasco."

Several US players said they had no problems with Hammon's decision.

"I never had a problem with it," Taurasi said. "I always said it was her decision and if she was OK with it, I really don't have much to say about it."