The United States and China will compete for the gold medal in the Women’s World Cup

Sydney. Breanna Stewart y The United States looked dominant defensively as they beat Canada 83-43 on Friday. and advance to the duel for the gold medal of the Women’s Basketball World Cup for the fourth consecutive tournament.

Stewart scored 17 points as the Americans took an early lead to defeat a Canadian team whose 43 points represent the fewest scored in a semifinal game in World Cup history.

“Canada has been playing very well throughout the tournament and the goal was to go out there and really limit them.”, pointed out Alyssa Thomas, from the United States. “We didn’t really lock in early on with our game plan.”

The Americans will face China on Saturday., which for its part edged host Australia 61-59. The Chinese team lost to the United States by 14 points in the group stage, the closest matchup of the tournament for the Americans.

“Our goal was to win a gold medal and we are in a position to do it,” said US coach Cheryl Reeve.

The United States (7-0), which maintains a record pace of points and winning margin in the tournament, took control of the match from the start by scoring the first 15 points. The Americans contested every play on their defense and made the Canadians miss their first nine shots from the field. On the offensive end, Stewart, A’ja Wilson and Alyssa Thomas pretty much hit everything they tried.

“I think after that hit they really ran out of airThomas said. “After that, they didn’t know what to do with their offense anymore.”

Laeticia Amihere, who plays in South Carolina for former US manager Dawn Staley, finally put Canada on the scoreboard nearly five minutes after kick-off.

At the end of the first quarter, the United States was already leading 27-7. Canada had committed four turnovers, the same number they suffered in the entire game against Puerto Rico in the quarterfinals, which was the lowest total in a game in 30 years.

The Americans led 45-21 at halftime and the lead continued to widen in the final 20 minutes. The win was the largest margin for the United States in knockout stages, surpassing the 36-point victory over Spain in the 2010 World Cup.

Canada (5-2) advanced to the semis for the first time since 1986 and has a chance for its first medal since winning bronze that year.

“We didn’t make it, but we will take what we learned today and how we can improve it tomorrow,” Canadian captain Natalie Achonwa said. “We still have one game (against Australia) for a medal and it’s just as important for us.”

It was the 29th consecutive World Cup victory for the Americans, who have not lost since the 2006 semifinals against Russia.. The former Soviet Union holds the World Cup record with 56 wins in a row between 1959 and 1986. This is the second time in history that the United States has reached four straight women’s World Cup finals. They also did it from 1979 to 1990, winning three.

The Americans are averaging 101 points per game and their previous high was 99.1, set in 1994.