Belinda Snell has scored 16 points to help Australia beat host China 90-56 Thursday night and reach the Olympic gold medal game for the third straight time.
Lauren Jackson adds 11 points and 10 rebounds for the Australians, who were without Penny Taylor. The team's third-leading scorer is sidelined with a sprained ankle suffered in the quarterfinal win over the Czech Republic. It's unclear whether she will be ready to face the United States in Saturday's final game.
Australia has lost to the Americans in the medal round of the past three Olympics, taking home silver in the past two games.
Bian Lan scores 20 points for China, which faces Russia for the bronze medal Saturday. Miao Lijie _ who came in averaging a tournament-best 19.5 points _ finished with 10 but got off just four shots.
China's only loss of the tournament had come against the United States in group play. But despite playing in front of a vocal home-country crowd, the Chinese never stood much of a chance against Australia, falling behind by 16 points at halftime and never challenging afterward.
Australia outscored China 21-7 in the second period, holding China to just a pair of field goals in the quarter. Miao found few openings against a defense that had been holding teams to 60.8 points per game, while second-leading scorer Chen Nan went scoreless in the opening half.
China shot 32 percent for the game.
The Australians managed a balanced offensive showing, with five players scoring in double figures, while dominating the boards for a 56-34 advantage.
China can still win its first medal since taking home silver at the 1992 Barcelona Games. Its only other women's basketball medal was the bronze in Los Angeles in 1984.
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