Late rally lifts France over Czechs into semis

Celine Dumerc scored 23 points and sparked a late rally as France advanced to the semi-finals of the Olympic women's basketball tournament by defeating the Czech Republic 71-68. The French will face reigning European champion Russia in a Thursday semi-final while the other will send four-time defending champion United States, on a 39-game Olympic win streak, against Australia. The Czechs took charge in the third quarter, seizing a 51-41 lead entering the fourth quarter and a 55-44 edge before the French battled back with a 15-2 run, Dumerc capping the spurt with a three-point play to pull the French within 59-57. France reclaimed the lead at 64-63 on two Isabelle Yacoubou free throws with 3:22 to play and, after Ilona Burgrova's basket put the Czechs back on top 65-64, Dumerc followed with a 3-pointer with 65 seconds remaining to give France a 67-65 edge. Endene Miyem added a basket and two late free throws to give France a 71-66 lead. Burgrova answered with a basket but it was too little and too late.