Tina Thompson scored 27 points and Sylvia Fowles added 18 points and eight rebounds to power three-time defending champion United States past China 108-63 Monday in Olympic women's basketball.

China led 11-10 early in the first quarter before the Americans ran off a streak of 23 consecutive points to grab a 33-11 edge and were never threatened again on their way to a 27th consecutive Olympic victory.

China's Shao Tingting and Tina Thompson of the US go for the ball during the women's preliminary round match August 11 2008. [China Daily]

Candace Parker added 12 points while Lisa Leslie, seeking her fourth gold medal in a row, contributed 10 points and 10 rebounds. Every US player scored and played for at least 13 minutes.

Chinese captain Miao Lijie scored 16 points to pace the Games hosts while Chen Nan added 14.

The Americans and Australia, the reigning world champions, are favored to meet in the Aug 23 final.

Russia upset the US women in the world semi-finals but lost to the Aussie Opals in the final. The Aussie have dropped the past two Olympic finals to the Americans.

The Chinese and the Americans last met in April during a gold medal game of a tournament in Beijing. China won 84-81 but the American team was underhanded with only four player from the current Olympic squad, Fowles, Kara Lawson, Lisa Leslie and Katie Smith.

Monday, the Americans fielded a star-filled lineup which changed the odds in their favour.

Next up for the US is Mali. The US is expected to rout the African team that is competing in the event for the first time.

The win Monday was the second consecutive blow out for the US. The Americans beat the Czech Republic 97-57 on Saturday.

Monday's win puts the US in the quarterfinals but, heavily favored for a gold, their qualifying was a foregone conclusion from the start.

Agencies