RIO DE JANEIRO -- Penny Taylor and her Australian teammates knew what was at stake.A win over France would put them in the drivers seat in Group A, meaning theyd potentially avoid playing the U.S. until the womens basketball gold medal game.Taylor helped them also get a measure of revenge in the process, scoring an Olympic career-high 31 points to help Australia beat France 89-71 on Tuesday.Its huge, Taylor said. We dont want to face the U.S. until we have to, so I think thats huge for us.This will be Taylors last shot at beating the U.S., and she would like that opportunity in meeting between the top teams in the gold medal game. The 35-year-old guard told The Associated Press before the Olympics started that she planned to retire at the end of the current WNBA season. Shes already has two silver medals at the Olympics and wants to go out with a gold.On Tuesday, she made her first seven shots and had scored 23 points before missing her first field goal attempt. She finished 10 of 13 from the field with nine assists and five rebounds.That was vintage Penny, Australian coach Brendan Joyce said. She was great and really lifted us.All that stands between Australia (3-0) and winning the group is Japan. Those teams play Thursday and a win by the Australians would clinch the No. 1 seed in its pool and avoid a matchup with the U.S. until the finals. The Australians respect the Americans but arent intimidated by the U.S., which has won the last five Olympic gold medals and a roster of WNBA All-Stars and MVPs.The heavily favored Americans have captured the headlines, but the venerable Opals continue to win .They have their own 6-foot-8 center in Liz Cambage, who has been dominant so far in the Olympics when she can stay out of foul trouble. They also have a few WNBA stars of their own in Taylor and Erin Phillips.We know what we will face if we play them eventually, Joyce said. We have a long tough road still before that happens and well worry about them when we face them.The road did get a little easier with the win over France. The Opals lost to the French in overtime in the London Games in 2012, costing them the top spot in the group. It was Australias only loss to a team other than the U.S. in the Olympics since 1996. Australia ended up with a bronze medal in London.We dont want to drop any pool round games, said Phillips, who scored nine points in Tuesdays win. Good thing about this team is we never get too high on a win or low on a loss. This win against France by 18 was huge. If you had told me this morning when I woke up and said we would beat France by 18, Id be really, really happy.Both Taylor and Phillips missed the 2012 Olympics. Taylor was out with a torn ACL and Phillips didnt make the team. They are both cherishing their Olympic experience.Its been amazing, gone really fast. I try to soak it up as much as I can when Im not playing, the 31-year-old Phillips said. In the dining hall you see Usain Bolt and some gymnasts who are the best in the world, its inspiring.You never really know what an Olympics mean until you miss one. Penny and I missed one for different reasons. To be back here makes it so much more memorable.---Follow Doug on Twitter at http://www.twitter.com/dougfeinberg Cheap Pittsburgh Steelers Jerseys . Now, with Game 6 set for Fenway Park and an 8:07 p.m. ET first pitch, the Detroit Tigers face the unenviable task of having to beat the Boston Red Sox twice, on the road, to advance to the World Series. Cheap Chicago Bears Jerseys . A knee to the thigh might have stung him the most, but his sixth straight double-double made up for the brief burst of pain. http://www.wholesalejerseysnfloutlet.com/cheap-kansas-city-chiefs-jerseys/ . Its an influence in football and a big part of the game. Cheap NFL Store . Still, Brewers manager Ron Roenicke thought taking him out before the fifth inning was an unusual move. "Im looking up at the board and hes got two hits given up and one run, and Im taking him out after the fourth inning," Roenicke said. Cheap Buffalo Bills Jerseys . - The Oakland Raiders re-signed offensive lineman Khalif Barnes on Friday. MINNEAPOLIS -- Home plate umpire Jerry Layne was hit in the mask by a foul ball in the first inning and had to leave Sundays game between Seattle and Minnesota because of concussion-like symptoms.A foul off the bat of the Mariners Robinson Cano ricocheted directly off Laynes mask.Layne stumbled to his right and was grabbed by catcher Juan Centeno, who was quuickly aided by Cano.dddddddddddd Layne was tended to by Minnesota trainers for a few minutes before gingerly leaving the field.Hunter Wendelstedt took over home plate duties. Layne was the crew chief for the game at Target Field. Wholesale Jerseys Wholesale Jerseys cheap jerseys Cheap Jersyes Cheap Basketball Jerseys Cheap NHL Jerseys cheap jerseys Cheap Jerseys Cheap Jerseys Cheap Jerseys From China Cheap NFL Jerseys ' ' '