The US women’s basketball team passed the first crucial test in the Beijing competition in a close competition. The US team beat Russia in the semifinals and the team is now primed up for its fourth straight gold medal game. It was a close game Thursday night with a score of 67-52.

The game against the Russian women has been the toughest test yet for the women’s team. Before the game with Russia, Team US had been averaging 99.2 points through their first six games and the winning margin is pegged at 43 points per game. And just before the game against the Russians the closest the competition got was when Spain managed to score well and the US team led by only 5 at the half.

But the team from Russia proved to be a worthy competition for the likes of Diana Taurasi and Tina Thompson. The results of team Russia had been varied and their games and results during pool play won’t suggest that they are contenders. In fact when the Russian team played Spain, the Russian trailed Spain by 18 in the first half before posting an 84-65 win.

The Russian team started the match well and for the next 23 minutes, Team Russia played toe to toe with the US team. Russia took a 38-33 lead as well after the shot made by Maria Stepanova early in the third quarter. But at that point the US team turned to serious business and scored the next 12 points. The next 12 points came from Thompson, three pointers from Smith and Taurasi, and layups coming from Thompson and Leslie.

The scoring drought for Russia was ended by Stepanova again with a foul line jumper and it was the last point that they have scored in the third quarter. Stepanova was Russia’s lead scored with 14 points and is set to play China for the bronze.