Saitama, Japan - The US had no difficulty in thrashing Serbia 79-59 on Friday to reach the women's basketball final at the Tokyo Games and maintain their long unbeaten streak at the Olympics.

The US women have won eight of nine Olympic basketball golds available since 1984 and are unbeaten at the Games since the last of their three losses came in 1992.

"This is exactly where we want to be, so now everything is on the line," said the US' Breanna Stewart. "We’re going to do what we can to make sure that we come home with a gold."

Serbia never looked like they would cause an upset and were effectively beaten by the end of the first quarter, where they trailed by 13 points.

From then, the US controlled matters and coasted into Saturday's gold medal match, where they will meet hosts Japan or France.

The loser of that second semi-final will take on Serbia for bronze, also on Saturday in Saitama.

Brittney Griner led the US in scoring with 15 points, a tally matched by US-born Yvonne Anderson playing for Serbia.

But with no teammate also reaching double figures, Anderson did not have the support offered by Chelsea Gray (14) and Stewart (12), as her lonely resistance fell short.

"Obviously you fight for a win, but whatever the outcome we wanted to feel good about how we performed," said Anderson. "I think we have mixed emotions about it, but I think we definitely fought.

"Our goal is to leave with a medal, so we are going to take the attitude that we had, and fight in whatever circumstances we have.

"We are just getting ready for tomorrow," she added of their hunt for bronze.