In group B Team USA took another step towards retaining their gold medal, with a 108-63 win over hosts China in the Olympic women’s basketball competition on Monday. USA had defeated Czech Republic on Saturday.

EuroBasket 2007 silver medalists Spain began the day’s proceedings with an 85-62 mauling of Oceania rivals New Zealand and EuroBasket 2005champions Czech Republic bounced back from their opening game loss against the USA to beat FIBA Africa champions Mali 81-47.

Spain, Czech Republic, China and New Zealand are all now locked 1-1, with Mali having lost both their outings.

China raised the hopes of the crowd when they led 11-10 in the first quarter, but USA hit back with 23-0 run to end the quarter 33-11. That initial sizzle set the tone of the rest of the encounter as the Americans raced away to another spree – a 14-1 run this time, in the early stages of the second quarter.

Tina Thompson scored 21 points of her game-high 27 points in the first half, with 13 coming in the first quarter. Along with the ‘Best Individual Performance’ of the tournament so far, she also pulled down five rebounds during the 23 minutes she was on court.

Lijie Miao with 16 points led the scoring for China, who lost starting point guard Song Xiaoyun to a sprained ankle in the third quarter.

“They (USA) played beautiful,” China coach Tom Maher said.

“When they start like that and they hit like that, we need a lot of things to go our way to keep in the game.”

“It was like women on children in the ‘bigs’ department,” the Aussie added.

“It was overwhelming. They were too good for us. They shot everything. We need unconventional rebounding and they killed us in that area.”

Australia pulled away early in their game against Brazil with a 13-0 run that helped them finish the first quarter 29-14 ahead. The Opals consolidated the lead to 50-29 by the end of the first half and seemed cantering towards their target.

But, the Brazilians hit back with an 11-1 run, including three-pointers from Adriana Pinto and Karen Rocha.

Australia were comfortably ahead, but Brazil refused to be blown away.

And as the South Americans continued to haunt, Suzy Batkovic stepped in with her mini-spree to seal the issue for the Opals.

Laura Summerton topped the scoring for Australia with 18 points and pulled down six rebounds. Penny Taylor topped the rebounds with eight, along with scoring 11 points.

“Laura had a great game,” said Australian guard Kristi Harrower, who herself scored15 points and pulled down four defensive rebounds.

“She runs the floor and does the little things really well.”

Kelly Santos led the scoring for Brazil with a game-high 21 points.

Australia next play Korea, while Brazil take on Latvia on Wednesday.

Scores Group A

Russia 77 (Tatiana Shchegoleva 13, Ilona Korstin 13, Marina Karpunina 12, Irina Osipova 11) bt Korea 72 (Choi Yoon-Ah 13, Beon Yeon-Ha 12). Quarterwise Scores: 25-14, 37-35, 58-59.

Belarus 79 (Yelena Leuchanka 22, Tatyana Troina 17, Katsiaryna Snytsina 12) bt Latvia 57 (Gunta Basko 19, Liene Jansone 16, Anete Jekabsone-Zogota 12). Quarterwise Scores: 21-20, 40-35, 60-49.

Australia 80 (Laura Summerton 18, Kristi Harrower 15, Penny Taylor 11) bt Brazil 65 (Kelly Santos 21, Micaela Martins Jacintho 11). Quarterwise Scores: 29-14, 50-29, 60-49.

Scores Group B

Spain 85 (Isabel Sanchez 19, Anna Montanana 18) bt New Zealand 62 (Jillian Harmon 22, Kate McMeekeen-Ruscoe 10). Quarterwise Scores: 18-7, 40-27, 60-47.

Czech Republic 81 (Hana Machova 14, Katerina Elhotova 12, Jana Vesela 12) bt Mali 47 (Djenebou Sissoko 24). Quarterwise Scores: 23-4, 38-22, 56-33.

USA 108 (Tina Thompson 27, Sylvia Fowles 18, Candace Parker 12) bt China 63 (Lijie Miao 16, Nan Chen 14). Quarterwise Scores: 33-11, 54-22, 81-46.