Opals bounce back against Canada to collect first win

LILLE (France) – Australia reacted to their false start at the Women’s Olympic Basketball Tournament Paris 2024 by sealing a pivotal 70-65 Group B success against Canada to get their first victory on the board.

It was a real battle and in a defensively dominated encounter, the Opals got it done and piled pressure on their still winless opponents. However they might end up feeling sore about the modest margin of victory – something which could come into play in the shake-up to make the Quarter-Finals.

Turning point

It was a one-shot game when Australia turned up the heat defensively and held Canada scoreless for a six minute spell either side of the third and fourth quarter break.

That was the catalyst for a double-digit lead which they required as a cushion down the game stretch.

Game heroes

Sami Whitcomb came to play and was the main architect of the win after hitting double-digits for assists.

She passed the rock 10 times and completed a fine double-double with 19 points, as well as 5 assists for a performance efficiency valuation of 30.

Steph Talbot also turned up to drive Australia over the finishing line with an all-action contribution. The guard claimed 11 points, 9 rebounds and 6 assists.

Stats don’t lie

Australia were dominant in the paint and converted 40 points from that source, compared to just 24 for Canada. Meanwhile the Opals also excelled on the glass too, getting 42 rebounds compared to 31 for Canada.

Bottom line

The loss to D’Tigress on day one meant that Australia had to win this game and especially with their potentially toughest task still ahead against the highly-fancied France. They started slowly and continued the trend of turning the ball over. But once they finally fixed the issue in the second half, it made a huge difference.

The Opals will still be sweating on their Quarter-Finals ticket and whether they head home or move to the French capital hangs tantilizingly in the balance.

Canada looked low on energy and ideas at times. They still don’t look like having the firepower to shoot their way into the last eight. They will now have to beat Nigeria and make it a case of third time lucky if they want to have any chance of progressing. But their late flurry of points in this game with the Opals might end up proving enough in terms of basket difference.

They said

“We have a really good culture and bonding system and connection within this group. As disappointed as we were [losing to Nigeria], we knew we would come back together and figure it out with a greater effort and focus together.

France [next] is going to be a great challenge and we can rise to the occasion. We are going to approach it as a must win game. We have experienced that [huge crowd and atmosphere] in Sydney on the other side of it. It’s such a fun environment to be in and I think it is more important for them than for us. “ Opals’ guard, Sami Whitcomb

“It was about urgency and taking some pride in playing tougher defense. Because that is what it is, you have to compete. Obviously still turned the ball over far too much and it is a bit of an Achilles. If we could just reduce that we would be in way better shape and score 80 points instead of 70. ” Opals’ head coach, Sandy Brondello

“With the points difference I am just so glad we locked in [at the end]. You can’t miss four free-throws in a tight game though and I was hard on myself for this because I am better than that. But there were other ways I could contribute and I came back into the game and showed somew reslience and some leadership,” Canada captain, Natalie Achonwa

Quick notes

– Australia claimed just their second win across their last seven games at the Olympics (L5), whilst they now only hold more wins in the competition against Brazil (7) and Russia (5) than versus Canada (3).

- Canada have now lost seven of their last eight games at the Olympics (W1), losing their opening two games of an Olympic tournament for the first time since 1996.

– Aged 36 years and 12 days old, Sami Whitcomb (19pts, 10ast) became the oldest player to combine 10+ points with 10+ assists in a game at the Olympics, and the second oldest ever to register a double-double in the competition behind Lisa Leslie of the USA against Spain in 2008 (36 years, 39 days).

– Bridget Carleton was Canada’s leading points scorer in their loss to Australia, with 15 of her 19 points coming from behind the arc; Kim Gaucher (5/7 v Russia in 2012) is the only other Canadian to make as many as five three-pointers in a game at the Olympics.

– Steph Talbot (11pts, 9reb, 6ast) had made just two of her 26 field goal attempts at the Olympic Games before today but made five of her 10 such shots against Canada, also grabbing the most rebounds of any player in this game.

FIBA