SAO PAULO, Brazil — Russia beat the two-time defending champion United States 75-68 in the semifinals of the women's world championships on Thursday night, snapping the Americans' 26-game winning streak in this event.
Russia took advantage of poor shooting and sloppy ball-handling by the U.S. to take a 58-38 lead after three quarters. The Americans closed to 73-68 with 45 seconds left, but after two missed free throws by Oxana Rakhmatulina with 30 seconds to go, the U.S. took up almost all of the 24-second shot clock, and Candace Parker missed a layup with 12 seconds left.
Ilona Korstin made two free throws with 10 seconds to go and Russia (5-3) advanced to Saturday's gold medal game against Australia (8-0), which beat Brazil 88-76 in the other semifinal.
The U.S. men lost 101-95 to Greece in the semifinals of the world championships last month and won the bronze medal.
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The United States' last loss in the world championships was to Brazil, 110-107, in the semifinals in 1994.
The U.S. had won 51 straight games in the world championships and Olympics dating to that loss.
The U.S. (7-1) beat Russia 90-80 in the first round. The United States entered the tournament ranked No. 1 by FIBA, while Russia was No. 2.
Diana Taurasi had six points in the United States' 13-2 run to open the fourth quarter. Russia had the lead back to 73-58 with 2 1/2 minutes to go, but the United States' full-court pressure allowed it to get back within 73-68 on a three-pointer by Sue Bird with 45 seconds to go.
Taurasi finished with 21 points, while Tina Thompson had 15 and Parker 13.
Rakhmatulina had 18 points for Russia.
