Next up for the U.S. in the semifinals on Thursday is Australia, which the U.S. has beaten in the last three gold medal games. Russia will face France in the other semifinal.

The Americans haven't lost to Canada since playing in the world championship in 1975. The victory was their 39th straight in Olympic play and came 20 years to the day after the win that started the streak: a 88-74 victory over Cuba for the bronze medal in the 1992 Barcelona Games.

Canada, which was the final team to qualify for the London Games, made its first appearance in the Olympic quarterfinals. The Canadians looked timid against the Americans' pressure defense at the start.

Taurasi said locking teams up defensively ''has to be our focus.''

Despite its stellar defense, the U.S. was sloppy on offense.

The Americans missed a bunch of easy shots early on and only led 8-4 before scoring the next 11 points to take control. Parker had four points during the spurt.

Canada was able to close within 11 points in the second quarter, but the U.S. put the game away, outscoring its northern neighbors by eight the rest of the half to lead 42-21 at the break.

Shona Thorburn's running left-handed fling from 15-feet that banked in at the halftime buzzer was the lone highlight for Canada in the first half, when the Canadians had more turnovers (12) than field goals (six).

By the time Kobe Bryant, LeBron James and Kevin Durant showed up in the third quarter after they had finished practice, the U.S. women had doubled Canada's score: 57-28.

It only got worse from there.

Sylvia Fowles played in her second straight game after missing three in a row to rest a sore left foot. She only played nine minutes in the win over China. She looked stronger against Canada scoring 12 points in 9 minutes.

Kim Smith scored 13 points to lead Canada.

Despite the final outcome, Canada coach Alison McNeill was proud of her team's Olympic run.

''We really have come far over the last few years,'' she said. ''It may be the last time they are together, but they should be so happy of where they have brought Canadian basketball.''