ATHENS, Greece - Frustrated by fouls, turnovers and a feisty opponent, the United States desperately looked for help.

Then along came Sheryl Swoopes to set things right.

Swoopes made three big plays at the end - two baskets and another on defense - to help the United States squeeze out a 66-62 semifinal victory over Russia today.

And now just one game stands between the U.S. team and a third straight gold medal. The opponent will be either Australia or Brazil on Saturday.

This one wasn't wasn't easy, not by a long shot. And not especially pretty, either. After winning its first six games in these Olympics by an average of 29 points, the Americans found themselves in the rare position of fending off an opponent at the end.

Thanks to Swoopes, who had not made a basket before then, the United States got it done.

With her team clinging to a 60-58 lead, Swoopes buried a jumper from the left wing with 3:54 remaining, just beating the shot clock. She tipped a Russian shot at the other end, then scored again, hitting a 10-footer from the left baseline to make it 64-58 with 3:15 left.

When Lisa Leslie fed Tina Thompson for a layup, it was 66-58 with 2:50 to go, enough of a cushion for the United States to hold on.

That sigh of relief on the sideline came from U.S. coach Van Chancellor, who abandoned his more casual attire for a sharp gray sports coat and black slacks. By the start of the second half, the coat was off and Chancellor rarely sat down.

Thompson led the United States with 14 points, including a key 3-pointer early in the fourth quarter. Leslie and Tamika Catchings scored 11 each and Catchings made an absolute pest of herself by poking the ball away, intercepting passes and running down loose balls.

Yolanda Griffith added 10 points.

Russia, losing to the United States for the sixth straight time in Olympic and world championships play, got 13 points from Tatiana Shchegoleva and 11 from 6-foot-8 Maria Stepanova.