None of the players on the Canadian team were born when the country won its last medal at a Women’s Basketball World Cup. The Canadians are now one win away from doing so for the first time since 1986, when they won bronze.

Kia Nurse scored 17 points to lead a balanced Canada past Puerto Rico 79-60 in the quarterfinals.

“It’s very special,” Nurse said. “It has been a process for us and we all feel the disappointments. The quarterfinals have been our limit for a long time, and to be able to cross that line… I think our country is really excited about grassroots basketball and this is just the beginning of what we can accomplish.

On Friday, they will face the United States, who beat Serbia 88-55.

The other semi-final will oppose China to the host country Australia. The Chinese advanced after beating France 85-71. Meanwhile, Australia trailed Belgium 86-69.

Canada and Puerto Rico were tied 4-4 before the Canadians scored the next 12 points and started a 22-7 series that decided the first quarter.

The lead increased to 44-23 at halftime. Puerto Rico failed to make a dent in the second half due in part to Nurse, and Canada made just four turnovers in the entire game. After 11 months of recovering from an ACL injury, Nurse returned to the field to compete for his team in Australia. The game against Puerto Rico was his best World Cup match.

The loss ended a good tournament for Puerto Rico, which reached the quarter-finals for the first time in its history.

“The word legacy sums it all up,” said Arella Guirantes, who scored 19 points to lead the Puerto Ricans. “To be able to leave something like this which is an example for young people to come is beyond any victory or defeat… It has a huge meaning to be part of the beginning of a legacy. I have no doubt that we will come back and we will be better”.

In the USA win, Alyssa Thomas had 13 points, 14 rebounds and seven assists to help the defending champions topple Serbia.

Kelsey Plum had 17 points and A’ja Wilson added 15 to lead Team USA 6-0.

The Americans had torn apart the group stage, winning their matches with an average advantage of 46.2 points. They had faced no challenge.

Serbia (3-2) were unintimidated and attacked from the start. He scored the first basket of the duel – it was the first time the United States had trailed in the entire World Cup.

And for the first 17 minutes, the game was give and take. The United States failed to mount a single winning streak.

With 2:59 to go in the first half and the Americans leading by five, Kahleah Copper drove to the basket and was fouled. He fell heavily on his hip and received help from the team staff to get off the track.

The copper, which had triggered the American attack, did not return.

Plum replaced her and made both free throws. He launched a 12-0 run late in the first half, and the Americans entered the half leading 50-33.

Thomas had 13 points, six rebounds, four assists and two steals in the first 20 minutes.

The United States extended their unanswered 20-point streak in the third period before Serbia ended an offensive drought of nearly 8½ minutes with a three-point shot from Yvonne Anderson.

This reduced the deficit to 22 points, but the Serbs couldn’t get much closer. Anderson led them with 14 points.