Olympic report

Basketball

Diana Taurasi scored 18 points and Tina Charles finished with a double-double to lead the U.S. women’s team to an 88-61 win over the Czech Republic. The Americans have won 37 straight games in the Olympics, including four straight gold medals. Charles finished with 16 points and 14 rebounds. Former Eastern Washington player Julie Page scored eight points for Great Britain in an overtime loss to France.

Beach volleyball

Defending gold medalists Todd Rogers and Phil Dalhausser of the United States were eliminated by Italy. Rogers and Dalhausser lost the first set 21-17 and fell behind Paolo Nicolai and Danielle Lupo 12-7 in the second. The Americans tied it 19-19 but lost the final two points and were KO’d when Rogers’ spike was blocked back into him by the 6-foot-8-inch Nicolai. Jennifer Kessy and April Ross of the U.S. beat Switzerland’s Simone Kuhn and Nadine Zumkehr to advance to the quarterfinals of the women’s tournament.

Volleyball

Destinee Hooker scored 19 points and the U.S. women’s team clinched the top spot in its pool with a preliminary-round victory over Serbia in straight sets. Logan Tom added 12 points in the 25-17, 25-20, 25-16 sweep. The U.S. will wrap up the preliminary round with a match against Turkey on Sunday.

Water polo

Maggie Steffens scored three goals and the U.S. women’s team beat China 7-6 in its final preliminary-stage game. The U.S. finished the preliminary round even with Spain at the top Group A with five points. But Spain earned the top spot because of the tiebreaker, and the Americans will play 2012 European champion Italy in Sunday’s quarterfinals.

Cycling

No tears for Victoria Pendleton this time. Just jubilation. Pendleton washed away the disappointment of her disqualification in the team sprint by winning the Olympic gold medal in the keirin with a flawless performance. Pendleton, who was devastated and left in tears after the team sprint, raised both arms after crossing the finish line and then brandished a Union Jack to the delight of the 6,000 spectators.

Rowing

Mahe Drysdale was really nervous before the men’s single sculls final. He felt really great when it was all over. The star oarsman from New Zealand won his race in the Olympic rowing regatta, completing the resume of one of the sport’s leading names. The five-time world champion finished in 6 minutes, 57.82 seconds. Ondrej Synek of the Czech Republic got the silver, and Britain’s Alan Campbell surged late for third.

Trampoline

China’s Dong Dong took the gold in men’s competition, putting together a dizzying series of flips and twists. Dmitry Ushakov of Russia was second, and defending Olympic champion Lu Chunlong of China grabbed the bronze.

Shooting

Sergei Martynov of Belarus set a world record in the men’s 50-meter rifle prone, and Cuba got its first shooting gold medal at an Olympics when Leuris Pupo won the 25-meter rapid fire pistol.