VILLENEUVE-D’ASCQ, France — Australia and Canada were both planning on leaving the Paris Olympics with some form of medal in their pockets. However, after both teams lost their openers, Thursday’s Group B meeting was a must-win for qualifying to the quarterfinals.
The Opals led for a majority of the game and emerged with a 70-65 victory. Cayla George’s 3-pointer at the buzzer ended the first half with a six-point edge for Australia. The team carried the momentum and began pulling away in the second, and a double-digit lead was reduced after a late Canadian rally in the final minute. It was just what the team needed to put away the memories of Monday’s historic 13-point loss to Nigeria.
“We brought a lot of energy,” Australia forward Ezi Magbegor said. “We started the game a lot better and we contained their runs. Basketball is a game of runs, so we know Canada, or whoever we play, is going to go on runs. We need to counter that. We need to not get too high or too low, and I think we did a good job of that.”
Magbegor scored eight points out of the hatch in the first quarter, but foul trouble limited her to 15 minutes total, and she finished with 10. It was Sami Whitcomb, the 36-year-old guard, who carried the load down the stretch. Whitcomb tied Canada’s Bridget Carleton with 19 points and 10 assists. She fouled out with one minute remaining, and a thunderous ovation followed.
“We have a close bond with this group,” Whitcomb said. “So as disappointed as we were [with the loss Monday], we knew we would come back together and figure it out.”
Balance between veterans and youth
Australia’s bench outscored that of Canada’s 26-11. Head coach Sandy Brondello not only praised the veteran leadership of Whitcomb, George (35) and Marianna Tolo (35), but the young players like 21-year-old Jade Melbourne.
“We went through a stage when we didn’t have too many point guards,” Brondello said, “and now we have an abundance of them. We need to keep developing them. [Melbourne] has not played at this level much, but she is going to learn from the experience. She is going to make mistakes because she is young, but she can get down with the best of them. She will help us going forward.”
The Opals have one more group-stage match remaining, and it will be against host France on Sunday at 3 p.m. ET. Australia can return the favor after France won, 70-57, to begin the FIBA World Cup in Sydney two years ago.
“They have had two months together,” Brondello added. “They are very versatile and very long. Marine Johannes is back, and I know what she can do [Brondello has coached her on the New York Liberty]. Gabby Williams — there are a bunch of athletes out there. They play well together and spend a lot of time together. They are a way better team that what they were two years ago.”
