The road to the gold medal at the Commonwealth Games starts here as women’s basketball powerhouse the Australian Opals take on their neighbours from across the Tasman, New Zealand. Join The Roar for live scores and coverage from 9pm (AEST).
Australia has dominated the tournament so far, cruising to top spot in their pool over Canada, England and Mozambique. In the other group, New Zealand have been no pushovers either.
With a chance to play off for a gold medal, there will be no shortage of motivation. With a vocal home crowd also behind the Australian’s, it should be an entertaining affair.
New Zealand will need to keep Liz Cambage under control if they are to keep up with the Aussies on the scoreboard. Charissa Leger-Walker is the youngest on the New Zealand team, but she has shown a lot of promise throughout the tournament. If she can keep that up she will be a great boost for the New Zealand team.
Prediction
With the home crowd behind them, as well as the overall talent in the Australian team, the tournament favourites should cruise comfortably to a spot in the gold medal game. New Zealand have a tough ask and despite the rivalry between the two countries, they look far too outmatched to pose a problem for the Opals.
Australia by 16.
Be sure to join The Roar for live coverage of this women’s basketball semi-final from 9pm (AEST).
Sam Walker
Roar Guru
Australia cruise to a 109-50 point win and will face off against England tomorrow night for the gold medal. New Zealand looked far out matched against Australia early in the game and they couldn't catch up. Australia played a fantastic all round game and will now look to take home the gold medal tomorrow. Thanks for joining me, sorry it wasn't a close game but the Australian team won and that is all that matters. Australia 109 New Zealand 50.
Sam Walker
Roar Guru
55 point lead to the Australian team now. Australia 100 NZ 45.
Sam Walker
Roar Guru
Australia is sticking with Cambage on the floor, with them being up this big i would have expected her to get the quarter off. Australia 96 New Zealand 39
Sam Walker
Roar Guru
Australia leading 93 39 midway through the final term.
Sam Walker
Roar Guru
final quarter of the game and 7 decides to cut over to the hockey. I will see if i can keep you up to date with the scores without that.
Sam Walker
Roar Guru
Australia thoroughly dominant in that 3rd quarter cruising to a 30-6 point differential.
Sam Walker
Roar Guru
Do we have a mercy rule in this competition? 49 point lead to Australia 83-34 as the third quarter finishes.
Sam Walker
Roar Guru
42 point lead to Australia with less than 2 minutes to play in the 3rd quarter.
Sam Walker
Roar Guru
Timeout New Zealand as Australia are up big and continuing to pile on the points against what seems to be a hapless NZ team. Australia 70 leads New Zealand 34 3:33
Sam Walker
Roar Guru
Easy score for Australia and then a turnover on the inbound and they score within a few seconds of one another.
Sam Walker
Roar Guru
Steph Talbot with the 3 point shot for Australia. Australia 59 NZ 30
Sam Walker
Roar Guru
Nice score from the young New Zeland gun Leger-Walker. Australia 56 NZ 30.
Sam Walker
Roar Guru
Australia start with it in the second half.
Sam Walker
Roar Guru
Australia in a commanding position right now. Australia leads New Zealand 53-28
Sam Walker
Roar Guru
Cayla George is simply on fire for Australia. 13 points and the Australians are up by 27. Australia 49 NZ 22. 1:21 2nd quarter.
Sam Walker
Roar Guru
21 point lead to Australia and New Zealand are really struggling to string a few scores in a row to cut it back. Australia 40 NZ 19 4:23 remains 2nd quarter.
Sam Walker
Roar Guru
Poor shooting from both sides in this game, but the tempo from each side is quite high.
Sam Walker
Roar Guru
Australia with a 7 to 5 run to start the 2nd. Australia 32 NZ 17. 8:00 to play
Sam Walker
Roar Guru
New Zealand get the ball to start the 2nd quarter. Just a recap on the previous game England upset Canada to book their place into the gold medal game.
Sam Walker
Roar Guru
3 point shot from Belinda Snell and Australia with their largest lead yet. end of the first q Aus 25 NZ 12.