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Australian Opals vs China |
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Women's FIBA World Cup, quarter-final. Time: Q4 1 |
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| Santiago Martin Arena, San Cristobal de La Laguna, Spain | ||
| Australia | China | |
| 83 | SCORE | 42 |
| 24 | Q1 | 7 |
| 18 | Q2 | 11 |
| 19 | Q3 | 16 |
| 22 | Q4 | 8 |
The Australian Opals have been dominant at the women’s World Cup so far, but will run into their strongest challenge yet against China in the quarter-finals. Join The Roar for live scores and coverage from 11pm (AEST).
The Opals came out of their group at the top of the tree, having compiled an impressive resume of three straight wins against Nigeria, Argentina and Turkey.
They dealt with every challenge which came their way and in the end, none of their matches had them under pressure during the fourth quarter as they ran away with big wins.
Liz Cambage has been the key for Australia. She has been dominant in the paint during each performance, but it’s her ability to draw fouls and stretch the floor which has been most impressive.
With the paint locked down and a defence unable to stretch to the perimeter, it’s allowed shooters like Cayla George, Steph Talbot, Tess Madgen and Alanna Smith to light up.
When Cambage has been on the bench, Australia have kept similar levels of domination through Ezi Magbegor.
Against the smaller defensive outfit of China, Cambage and Magbegor could have a field day.
China had to play an extra game after finishing in second place out of Group D, falling to the USA in one of their pool games.
While there is no shame in that, the game showed exactly where their defensive shortcomings will be as we get to the big matches of the tournament.
They were extremely solid in their quarter-final qualifier though, getting the better of Japan by six points in what was a physical encounter.
What they will need to do though is recover. Australia, by far the fitter side, have now had two days off in between games, so they will ram home any advantage they may have during the second half.
With the Opals likely to dominate the glass, a fast start should see them put it on cruise control during the second half of the match.
Prediction
China will present a tougher challenge and take some confidence out of their last-start victory to keep the tournament alive, but challenging the Opals is a different brand of challenge – one they won’t be able to handle.
Opals by 13.
Be sure to join The Roar for live coverage of this quarter-final from 11pm (AEST) and don’t forget to add a comment in the section below.
Tip-off: 11pm (AEST)
Venue: Santiago Martin Arena, San Cristobal de La Laguna, Spain
TV: Live, Fox Sports
Online: Live, Foxtel app, Foxtel now
Referees: TBC
Australia (expected)
Point guard: Katie Ezbery
Shooting guard: Cayla George
Small forward: Steph Talbot
Power forward: Bec Allen
Centre: Liz Cambage
Bench: Jenna O’Hea, Tess Madgen, Alanna Smith, Alex Bunton, Ezi Magbegor, Tess Lavey, Samantha Whitcomb
China (expected)
Point guard: Yuan Li
Shooting guard: Meng Li
Small forward: Ting Shao
Power forward: Yueru Li
Centre: Jiacen Liu
Bench: Xu Han, Sijing Huang, Xueya Ma, Mengran Sun, Siyu Wang, Xuemeng Wang, Liwei Yang
Scott Pryde
Expert
Thanks for joining me this evening on The Roar for our live coverage of the 2018 FIBA Women's World Cup. Hopefully you enjoyed the coverage. We will be back for the semi-final tomorrow. Bye for now.
Scott Pryde
Expert
Roarers, thoughts on the game?
Scott Pryde
Expert
Cambage again the best of the Aussies with 20 points and 9 rebounds. Allen had 16 points as well.
Scott Pryde
Expert
So, Australia will now take on Spain or Canada in the semi-finals.
Scott Pryde
Expert
FULLTIME Well, that's the end of that. All to easy in the end for the Opals who are through to the semi-finals with a 41-point beatdown of a China team who just couldn't overcome the defensive structure, intensity and pressure applied by the Australian team. Australia - 83 China - 42
Scott Pryde
Expert
Q4 2' The air has gone out of this game. Australia just trying to get through without an injury, and China aren't good enough to take any sort of advantage and cut into the gap on the scoreboard as they continue shooting bricks. Australia - 79 China - 39
Scott Pryde
Expert
Q4 4' Apologies for the lack of updates, but there hasn't been a great deal missed, nor is there much interest left in this match. Australia by 38 as China take timeout. Australia - 75 China - 37
Scott Pryde
Expert
Q4 9' China with a turnover to start the fourth quarter, then it's Lavey to Talbot and she sinks a three to get the scoreboard ticking in the final. Australia - 64 China - 34
Scott Pryde
Expert
Apologies, it's 61-34.
Scott Pryde
Expert
THREE QUARTER TIME China with a shot clock violation. Australia can now hold for the last shot, and it appears as if they will do so with Madgen running the clock. She goes into the lane, finds Cambage and that's a miss to end the third. Australia by 25 with ten to play. Australia - 59 China - 34
Scott Pryde
Expert
Q3 0' Australia along the baseline now through Talbot, but her bounce pass is batted away. Scrap for the ball on the ground, but China come up with it and slow things down. China through their passes now before Madgen bats a bounce pass over the baseline. Great switching on defence. Australia - 59 China - 34
Scott Pryde
Expert
Q3 0' Turnovers going both ways now, before China have it locked up and the possession arrow is with Australia, so they will take possession on the back of that. Australia - 59 China - 34
Scott Pryde
Expert
Q3 1' China with a missed three, but Australia can't control the rebound and they retain possession. Wang turns it over off the inbound though and now Talbot sinks a corner bucket in transition. Had a foot on the arc. Australia - 59 China - 34
Scott Pryde
Expert
Q3 2' Smith to the line again. Makes both. Australia - 57 China - 34
Scott Pryde
Expert
Q3 2' China with a wide open miss from the post through Liu, then it's Cambage missing a three-point attempt from the top. Foul on the rebound. Australia - 55 China - 34
Scott Pryde
Expert
Q3 2' Smith to the line here. She makes one. Australia - 55 China - 34
Scott Pryde
Expert
Q3 2' The Aussies just need to get a little bit of momentum swinging back their way here. Off the ball foul against China this time. Australia - 54 China - 34
Scott Pryde
Expert
Q3 2' Another bucket for China. Cambage checking back in. Australia - 54 China - 34
Scott Pryde
Expert
Q3 3' China just cutting into this game a little bit here. Australia have lost all momentum and their defence has lost its way. The Opals will take timeout. Australia - 54 China - 31
Scott Pryde
Expert
Q3 4' Han now runs the floor and drops it in for China. Australia - 51 China - 24