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Australian Opals vs Spain |
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|---|---|---|
Women's FIBA World Cup, semi-final. Time: Fulltime |
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| Santiago Martin Arena, San Cristobal de La Laguna, Spain | ||
| Australia | Spain | |
| 72 | SCORE | 66 |
| 23 | Q1 | 15 |
| 11 | Q2 | 20 |
| 16 | Q3 | 23 |
| 22 | Q4 | 8 |
The Australian Opals will look to continue their incredible run of form at the basketball World Cup when they take on Spain in the semi-finals. Join The Roar for live scores and coverage from 5am (AEST).
While China were supposed to put up something of a challenge against the Opals in their quarter-final outing, the Aussies had no problems in dispatching their Asian rivals by 41 points.
Now, the Opals find themselves in with a shot at making the final and a guaranteed medal if they can find a way to get the better of the Spanish team.
China showed little bits of promise against Australia, but with a ruthless defence and Liz Cambage smacking everyone around in the paint with whichever means she saw fit, it ended up being all too easy for the Opals.
What was even more impressive for Australia was the way they were able to continue extending the lead when Cambage was off the floor, with Cayla George and Steph Talbot both playing excellent basketball, while there were also plenty of contributions from the pine.
Spain, on the other hand, narrowly scraped through to this stage of the tournament and have had to do things the hard way.
This will be their third game in four days after they finished second in their group behind Belgium and were forced to play a quarter-final qualifier which they won against Senegal.
Spain went on to beat Canada by 15 points in their quarter-final last time out, but they haven’t had a performance on the same level as the green and gold yet, so they will need to play at their highest level so far for the tournament to challenge the Opals.
Prediction
Spain will put up one hell of a fight here in what could be a lower scoring game, but the way Cambage has been playing, it’s impossible to tip against the Opals at the moment.
Australia by 6.
Be sure to join The Roar for live coverage of this women’s basketball World Cup semi-final from 5am (AEST) and don’ t forget to add a comment in the section below.
Tip-off: 5am (AEST)
Venue: Santiago Martin Arena, San Cristobal de La Laguna, Spain
TV: Live, Fox Sports
Online: Live, Foxtel app, Foxtel now
Referees: Manuel Mazzoni (Italy), Natalia Cuello Cuello (Dominican Republic), Takaki Nato (Japan)
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
Spain (expected)
Point guard: Laia Palau
Shooting guard: Anna Cruz
Small forward: Alba Torrens
Power forward: Laura Nicholls
Centre: Astou Ndour
Bench: Cristina Ouvina, Silvia Dominiguez, Marta Xargay, Queralt Casas, Belen Arrojo, Laura Gil, Beatriz Sanchez
Scott Pryde
Expert
Thanks for joining me this morning on The Roar for our live coverage of the 2018 Women's Basketball World Cup as Australia got the better of Spain in a tight, tense semi-final. Hopefully you enjoyed the call. The victory for Australia means we will be back again tomorrow from 5am (AEST) for the gold medal match as Australia take on the United States of America. Bye for now.
Scott Pryde
Expert
Thoughts on the game Roarers?
Scott Pryde
Expert
Nothing to be ashamed of for Spain. They fought all the way to the finish line there. You can see what this means for Cambage though.
Scott Pryde
Expert
FULLTIME Well, Australia were pushed all the way to the finish line there. They found themselves behind at times in the fourth quarter, but in the end, it was Cambage leading the way. She managed to keep her emotions just in check to not pick up a fifth foul, ending with 33 points and 15 rebounds. Ridiculous numbers. Spain gallant in defeat, but just ended up in too much foul trouble and struggled to score points during the fourth quarter after taking a handy lead into the three quarter time break. Spain - 66 Australia - 72
Scott Pryde
Expert
FULLTIME Ebzery is good on one, but Australia grab the rebound on the second, dribble it out and that will be the end of that. Australia have won the semi-final against Spain and are into the gold medal match, set to take on the USA tomorrow for the ultimate prize! Spain - 66 Australia - 72
Scott Pryde
Expert
Q4 0' Spain must score right here. They are running a lot of time off the clock as well before a three goes up and misses. They get the offensive board, but miss again and now must foul. Australia go up to Ebzery on the edge of their own arc and with ten seconds to go, we will walk the floor for free throws which will ice the game. Spain - 66 Australia - 71
Scott Pryde
Expert
Q4 0' Spain take timeout with 32 seconds on the clock! What a huge bucket that was from Cambage and she knows it as well. If Australia defend well from here, they are home. Spain - 66 Australia - 71
Scott Pryde
Expert
Q4 0' Into the final minute and O'Hea comes up with a steal, then it's Talbot to Cambage! She scores, Australia by 5, 32 seconds on the clock! Spain - 66 Australia - 71
Scott Pryde
Expert
Q4 1' Cambage with a turnover. I have lost the feed at the moment unfortunately, but will try and bring you every score as it happens. Spain - 66 Australia - 69
Scott Pryde
Expert
Q4 1' Palau on the drive and she lays it in for Spain. Three point game Spain - 66 Australia - 69
Scott Pryde
Expert
Q4 2' Cambage with the jumper this time and she misses. And she could have easily been fouled on the rebound, but there is a kick out and threeee! Spain - 64 Australia - 69
Scott Pryde
Expert
Q4 2' Spain through Xargay this time and there is a whistle off the ball. Looks like that was against Whitcomb. From the inbound it's Xargay, but Cambage is there for the huge rejection. Spain - 64 Australia - 66
Scott Pryde
Expert
Q4 2' George makes both. Spain - 64 Australia - 66
Scott Pryde
Expert
Q4 2' Spain on the ball. Casas with a miss, then there is a foul against Sanchez who cleaned up George with an elbow on the rebound. Australia into the bonus. Spain - 64 Australia - 64
Scott Pryde
Expert
Q4 3' Timeout called. It's all square with three minutes on the clock. Nicholls fouled out on that three-point play as well, so she joins Ndour out of the game, while Cambage is playing with four. Spain - 64 Australia - 64
Scott Pryde
Expert
Q4 3' Turnovers both ways, then Cambage makes a three-point play. Spain - 64 Australia - 64
Scott Pryde
Expert
Q4 4' Torrens with a bucket now for Spain and they are back in front by three. Spain - 64 Australia - 61
Scott Pryde
Expert
Q4 4' Spain just struggling to find a good option. Nicholls eventually throws up a shot, but Cambage just slams that over the baseline. Two seconds on the shot clock. Oh what? Cambage hits the chest and has been called for a technical foul. That's... That's ridiculously poor officiating, simply because Cambage was celebrating the play and potentially whipping the crowd up. Technical falls Spain - 62 Australia - 61
Scott Pryde
Expert
Q4 5' Cambage manages to catch a difficult pass, but under all sorts of pressure, she eventually gives it up and loses control over the baseline. Spain - 61 Australia - 61
Scott Pryde
Expert
Q4 5' Smith with a miss for Australia from the high post, then it's Torrens working the ball around, finding Xargay and her shot is no good. Spain - 61 Australia - 61