US-France meet in women's hoops for Olympic gold

LONDON (AP) -- It looks like a mismatch of Olympic-size proportion.

The dominant U.S. women's basketball team that has won 40 straight Olympic contests, seeking its fifth consecutive gold medal Saturday against upstart France, which has never won any medal in women's hoops.

France is undefeated in the tournament along with the U.S., although the Americans have beaten teams by 34 points a game, France just eight.

Nonetheless, U.S. point guard Sue Bird says she knew the Americans might meet France in the gold medal game because, "I've played with all their girls and know how talented they are."

Both teams are assured of walking away with at least the silver medal, but anything less than gold for the Americans would be considered a monumental failure.

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