London 2012: United States Women Dominate France For Fifth-Straight Gold Medal

The United States women's basketball team completed their "Drive for Five" in resounding fashion, dismantling France 86-50 in today's gold medal game. This marks the first women's Olympic team in any sport to claim a streak of five consecutive gold medals.

The women were led by Candace Parker's 21 points and 11 rebounds. Sue Bird added 11 and Diana Taurasi contributed nine points and six assists in the romp. Every woman on the roster had at least three points in the game. France was led by two 12-point scoring efforts by Sandrine Gruda and Edwige Lawson-Wade in the loss.

Despite its relatively close start, the contest was all but over early in the third quarter when the U.S. went on a monster run that was exacerbated by an 8:12 field goal drought for "Le Bleu", leaving France in the dust. The Americans outscored France 26-12 in the period.

France picks up their first medal in women's basketball competition and is joined on the podium by Australia, who took the bronze after defeating Russia 83-74 earlier today.