The U.S. women's curling team broke a close game open in the eighth end on the way to a 7-4 victory over Japan on Saturday.

Holding a 4-3 lead, the Americans turned that into 7-3 in the eighth. Tabitha Peterson's last throw knocked out Japan's sitting stone and rolled into the four-foot, leaving the U.S. lying three with just Japan's hammer remaining.

Sayaka Yoshimura's final rock, a draw attempt for one, floated all the way through the house, allowing the U.S. to steal three and take a commanding lead.

It was the second stolen end of the game for Team USA, who also took one in the sixth for back-to-back single point ends.

The Americans held Japan scoreless for four straight ends from the fifth-eighth. 

Japan was forced to concede after settling for just one with hammer in the ninth. After Peterson's final throw, the U.S. lied three with just one Japanese stone in the house. Yoshimura's throw took out one, but the shooter didn't hold, leaving the Japanese team sitting a single.

Yoshimura's team conceded the 10th to give Team USA the win.

Peterson finished with 10 takeouts on a 100 percent shot success rate. Cory Thiesse had a game-high 14 takeouts. The U.S. shot 91 percent on takeouts and 84 percent on all shots in the match.

With the win, Team USA improves to 3-1 in Cortina. They'll be back on the ice at 8:05 a.m. ET on Sunday to take on China.

During that same session of play, Japan (1-3) will face South Korea.

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