Opals toughen up on tour of Europe

VRSAC (2015 FIBA Oceania Women's Championship) - Everything seems to be going according to plan for Australia's Opals on their tour of Europe.

That is the assessment of coach Brendan Joyce, even after a couple of defeats in recent days to Serbia, a side preparing for EuroBasket Women 2015 (11-28 June).

For Australia, the really important games will not come for almost three months, when they take on New Zealand in the FIBA Oceania Women's Championship.

The winner of that tie, to be played 15 August in Melbourne, Australia, and then two days later in Tauranga, New Zealand, will qualify for the Rio de Janeiro Olympics.

This is what we came away for; I want us to play quality opposition. - Joyce

The Opals, minus the majority of the players who finished third at last year's FIBA Women's World Championship in Istanbul, lost their first game at the Vrsac Millennium Hall, 75-54.

"What really stood out was that we have to adjust to the physicality that Serbia play with," Joyce said to the Basketball Australia website.

"We had a very high turnover rate and if you're turning the ball over, it makes it very difficult to win.

"The other area that we've got to focus on is improving our containment on the defensive end.

"We had a lot of opportunities to make shots.

"We've got to have some scoreboard pressure."

The game was an Opals baptism for Maddie Garrick, Stephanie Talbot and Katie-Rae Ebzery.

"We've got younger players here, or players that don't have a lot of international experience," Joyce said.

Our big picture is to beat New Zealand in about three months time. - Joyce

"Credit to Serbia, they played hard and executed very well."

The Opals improved in the next game, pushing Serbia much harder before falling, 88-78.

"I expected this," Joyce said.

"This is what happens when you play overseas and that's the whole point of being here. 

"The girls need to experience some adversity and physicality and see how they handle it.

"For a young team, we made huge drives from the first game to the second game so I'm actually really happy with the performance."

Tess Lavey, one of the members of last year's squad at the World Championship who is blossoming into a terrific point guard under Joyce, had 10 points and six assists in the second game, while Talbot also performed very well.

Veteran center Suzy Batkovic was an imposing presence under the basket.

Next up for Australia will be three friendly games against Italy, with the first in Pordenone and the other two in Caorle.

The Italians are also gearing up for the EuroBasket Women.

FIBA