Olympics: US women rip France for fifth gold in a row

US players pose with their gold medals after winning the London 2012 Olympic Games women’s basketball competition at the North Greenwich Arena in London on August 11, 2012. AFP /TIMOTHY A. CLARY

LONDON – Candace Parker scored a game-high 21 points and the United States won their fifth Olympic women’s basketball gold medal in a row by overpowering France 86-50 in Saturday’s championship game.

Parker also grabbed a game-high 11 rebounds for the US Women’s National Basketball Association (WNBA) stars, who stretched the American Olympic win streak to 41 games and captured America’s seventh crown in the past eight Olympics.

The US women have not lost at the Olympics since dropping a 1992 Barcelona semi-final to the Unified Team of former Soviet players and only once during the win streak has a rival kept the US winning margin below 10 points.

Since the start of the 1984 Olympics, US women are 55-1 in Olympic play, with Sue Bird, Diana Taurasi and Tamika Catchings each taking a third career gold medal in a row in London.

The previously undefeated French, led by 12 points each from Sandrine Gruda and Edwige Lawson-Wade, settled for silver but claimed their first Olympic medal in women’s basketball.

The Americans sealed the victory by scoring 19 points in a row in the third quarter, boosting their lead to 62-32. Angel McCoughtry scored five points in the span while Parker added four as US speed and shooting overwhelmed France.

Every US player scored in the rout.

Lawson-Wade’s 3-pointer gave France a 13-11 lead but the Americans closed the first quarter with an 11-2 run for a 22-15 edge early in the second quarter, Parker setting the pace with four points in the stretch.

Parker scored nine points in a pivotal 13-2 US run in the second quarter that gave the Americans a 37-23 lead on the way to a 37-25 half-time advantage.

France made six steals and forced six turnovers in the first half but failed to capitalize on their chances, producing only two points off turnovers and hitting only 9-of-32 shots from the field.

Adding to France’s woes was a left leg injury to backup centre Endene Miyem late in the third period during the decisive US run.