ATHENS, Greece, Aug. 25 (UPI) -- Shannon Johnson scored 21 points Wednesday to help push the U.S. women's basketball team into the Olympic semifinals with a 102-72 over Greece.
The heavily-favored Americans will meet Russia in Friday's semifinals. Russia easily downed the Czech Republic in Wednesday's second quarterfinal, 70-49.
Johnson made eight of 11 from the field while Tina Thompson added 20 points. The two-time defending champions had six players in double figures.
The Americans scored the first six points, led by nine after one quarter and were ahead by 21 at the half. The United States hit 57 percent of its shots in the opening two periods.
Greece's Anastasia Kostaki had 19 of the team's 34 points at halftime and finished with 26.
It was the 23rd straight Olympic victory for the American women.
Russia scored the final eight points of the opening quarter to take charge against the Czechs. Ilona Korstin paced the Russians with 16 points.
The other semifinal game will send Brazil against Australia. Brazil defeated Spain in the quarterfinals, 67-63, and Australia rolled past New Zealand, 94-55.
