Russians upset in basketball

Press, 28 July 1976, Page 14

Russians upset in basketball

NZPA Montreal Yugoslavia scored a stunning upset victory yesterday over the defending Olympic champions, Russia, beating them by 89-84 and eliminating them from the final. The Soviet loss in th« semi-final relegates them tc a bronze medal at best and puts the Yugoslavs into the final against the winner of the semi-final match later be tween the United States anti the host, Canada. I The United States women’s I basketball team trounced [Czechoslovakia 83-67 to virtually clinch an Olympic silvei I medal. ■ The two squads battled tc [a half-time tie of 37-37 and itheir standoff continued until midway into the second period. Then the Americans put together 17 straight points tc turn the game into a rout. The undefeated Russian team has already clinched the gold medal, and only an unlikely upset defeat of them by Japan in the final game of the women’s round robin could push the United States down to a bronze medal.