China's Song Xiaoyun (R) vies for the ball with Sue Bird of the US during a 2008 Beijing Olympic Women's preliminary round group B match at the Olympic basketball Arena in Beijing on August 11, 2008. US won the mach 108-63.[Agencies]

BEIJING--Defending champions United States used a half game to beat China 108-63 on Monday at the women's basketball competition of the Beijing Olympic Games.

After trailing 11-9 at the start, the U.S. scored 24 points in a row to close the first quarter 33-11.

Bian Lan stopped China's scoring drought with a jumper at the beginning of the second period, but the hosts were beanten again in this quarter and the United States led 61-27 to put the game out of touch.

China picked up their defence in the second half, but could not make up the big gap.