The United States women's basketball team continued its world domination, defeating Russia 79-74 on Wednesday to win its second straight Women's World Basketball Championship in Nanjing, China.

The victory was the 19th straight in championship play for the American women, undefeated since 1994.

Tournament MVP Lisa Leslie scored 17 in the final, hitting two free throws and a key jumper late in the fourth quarter to seal the win after Russia came within one.

The gold medal was America's seventh, the most in the championship's 49 years. The former Soviet Union is No. 2 with six golds.

Australia won the bronze with a 91-63 win over South Korea.

MORE PRO BASKETBALL: Investigators in Tahiti have stopped searching for the bodies of former NBA player Bison Dele and two companions and now are focusing on interviewing witnesses and searching Dele's sailboat. ... An arbitrator ruled that the 29 owners can redistribute luxury tax and escrow funds any way they please, which should help keep NBA payrolls down. ... Forward Lamond Murray of the Cavaliers was dealt along with a second-round draft pick to the Raptors for center Michael Stewart and a future first-round pick. ... The Timberwolves re-signed free-agent forward Gary Trent and signed Kendall Gill, a 34-year-old swingman who has played 12 NBA seasons. ... The Magic signed free-agent forward-center Pat Burke. Terms were not disclosed. ... The Jazz will retire Jeff Hornacek's No. 14 in a ceremony Nov. 19.

OBITUARIES: Harrison Smith Glancy, who won a swimming gold medal and set a world record at the 1924 Olympics as part of a relay team with Johnny Weissmuller, died at age 98. Mr. Glancy died of heart failure at his home in New Orleans early Sunday, said his son, David Luke Glancy. Mr. Glancy was the second-oldest surviving U.S. Olympic gold medal winner. James Stillman Rockefeller, 100, won gold in rowing at the 1924 Olympics. ... Lewis Oehmig, the only three-time Senior Amateur champion and the oldest golfer to win a U.S. Golf Association event, died at age 86 in Chattanooga, Tenn. ... Frank Corkin, a former college basketball referee, baseball umpire and sports writer in Connecticut, died after a long illness at age 87.

COLLEGES: Illinois track and cross country coach Gary Wieneke will retire after the 2003 outdoor season.

CYCLING: Italy's Angelo Furlan sprinted past Germany's Erik Zabel to win the 17th stage of the Tour of Spain in Salamanca, and Roberto Heras of the U.S. Postal team retained the overall lead. ... Brad McGee won the 4,000-meter individual pursuit, beating Luke Roberts in an all-Australian final at the World Track Championships in Copenhagen, Denmark. ... Juan Pineda was suspended for two years and fined $1,339 after testing positive for two anabolic steroids at a professional race in Lancaster, Pa., on June 4.

GOLF: Justin Leonard will try to become the first golfer in 40 years to win three straight Texas Open titles when the $3.5-million PGA Tour event begins today in San Antonio. ... Longtime rivals Jerry Courville and George Zahringer will play for the U.S. Mid-Amateur Championship today at The Stanwich Club in Greenwich, Conn. ... Ellen Port is one win away from her fourth U.S. Women's Mid-Amateur title after beating Lisa Desimone in a semifinal in Eugene, Ore. She faces Kathy Hartwiger in an 18-hole final today.

BOXING: Mike Tyson is expected to go before the Ohio Board of Tax Appeals in Columbus today to argue the state should return $5.8-million in income taxes to him.

TENNIS: Top-seeded Marcelo Rios beat Ruben Ramirez Hidalgo 6-4, 6-2 to advance to the second round of the Sicilian International in Palermo. Rios faces Attila Savolt, a 5-7, 6-0, 7-5 winner over Oliver Gross. ... Meghann Shaughnessy beat No. 2 Jelena Dokic 6-2, 6-2 to advance to the third round of the Sparkassen Cup in Leipzig, Germany. ... Marta Marrero beat Angelique Widjaja 6-4, 6-3 to advance to the second round of the Wismilak International in Bali, Indonesia. HORSES: Born Something won by 41/4 lengths in the allowance feature at Belmont Park. ... Hambletonian winner Chip Chip Hooray will be the 5-2 morning-line favorite for the $404,000 Kentucky Futurity on Saturday.

SOCCER: Host Dallas beat Colorado 4-2 in the first game of an MLS opening-round playoff series. ... Freddy Garcia scored on a 12-yard shot in the 81st minute, giving visiting Columbus a 2-1 victory over San Jose in their opener.

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