US Women's Basketball Keeps Historic Gold Medal Streak Alive

Team USA defeats Spain 101-72 in Rio
By Michael Harthorne,  Newser Staff
Posted Aug 20, 2016 4:33 PM CDT
US Wins 6th Straight Gold in Women's Basketball
United States' Brittney Griner, left, and Elena Delle Donne, right, celebrate with their gold medals after their win in a women's basketball game against Spain at the 2016 Summer Olympics in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, Saturday, Aug. 20, 2016.   (AP Photo/Eric Gay)

The USA women's basketball team won Olympic gold for a historically impressive sixth time in a row Saturday, defeating Spain 101-72 in Rio, USA Today reports. The team has now won 49 games in a row. And only once has an opponent come within 10 points of Team USA during that streak. The Americans posted an average margin of victory of 38.5 points in Rio and "simply had no peers in these Olympics." The AP states Team USA played "nearly flawless" basketball. Diana Taurasi and Lindsay Whalen led the way against Spain with 17 points each. A 16-3 Team USA run in the second quarter effectively ended any hope Spain had for the upset. It's the fourth gold medal for Taurasi, Sue Bird, and Tamika Catchings. (More Rio Olympics stories.)

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