SAO PAULO, Brazil -- Russia beat the two-time defending champion United States 75-68 in the semifinals of the women's World Championship on Thursday night, snapping the Americans' 26-game winning streak in the event, espn.com reports.

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 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 2½ minutes to go, but the United States' full-court pressure allowed it to get back within 73-68 on a 3-pointer by Sue Bird with 45 seconds to go.

Taurasi finished with 21 points, while Tina Thompson had 15 and Parker 13.

Penelope Taylor scored 26 points and Belinda Snell added 22 for Australia, which won the silver medal in the 2002 world championships.

Copyright 2006 by The Associated Press