Defending champions United States used a half game to beat China 108-63 on Monday at the women's basketball competition of the Beijing Olympic Games.

After trailing 11-9 at the start, the US scored 24 points in a row to close the first quarter 33-11.

Bian Lan stopped China's scoring drought with a jumper at the beginning of the second period, but the hosts were beanten again in this quarter and the United States led 61-27 to put the game out of touch.

China picked up their defence in the second half, but could not make up the big gap.

(Xinhua News Agency August 11, 2008)