BEIJING (Olympics) – The United States tore apart Australia 92-65 on Saturday to capture their fourth consecutive Olympic gold medal. The Americans, who settled for an uncharacteristic bronze at the 2006 FIBA World Championship, hit back with a vengeance this summer by routing all of their opponents at the Beijing Games. The USA women have now won 33 games in a row at the Olympics with gold medal wins over Australia in Sydney (2000) and Athens (2004).

BEIJING (Olympics) – Becky Hammon’s investment in Russian basketball, and the Russians’ investment in Becky Hammon paid a dividend on Saturday when the American guard scored a team-high 22 points to lead the European champions to a 94-81 win over China in the bronze medal game. Hammon, a CSKA Moscow playmaker who became a Russian citizen earlier this year and was then invited into the national team, poured in 11 in the first half as Russia built a 52-39 lead by the break.

BEIJING (Olympics) – Australia’s Penny Taylor won’t be at full strength with a sprained ankle when she takes on the United States in the gold medal game on Saturday, and the Americans know what that means. Lauren Jackson, the player many believe to be the best in the world, will pick up the slack. Diana Taurasi, Jackson’s close ...

BEIJING (Olympics) – Australia didn’t have injured superstar Penny Taylor for their semi-final against China but they blew out the Olympic hosts anyway 90-56. Taylor sprained her ankle in Australia’s quarter-final demolition of the Czech Republic two days ago and is still an uncertainty for the gold medal game against the United ...

BEIJING (Olympics) – The United States faced some tricky moments against Russia but held their nerve and won 67-52 to advance to the final of the women’s basketball tournament at the Beijing Games. The Americans trailed by as many as seven points late in the first half and were behind 38-33 three minutes into the third quarter when they went ...