AUS/BRA – Opals beat resilient Brazil

BEIJING (Olympics) – Australia threatened to run away from Brazil in the first half but in the end had to turn back a brave fightback from the South Americans to win 80-65.

Laura Summerton, who is emerging as a key player for the Opals this summer, had 18 points to lead the Aussies to a second straight triumph.

In a rematch of the 2006 FIBA World Championship semi-final which the Australians won before clinching the title, Brazil looked dead and buried at half-time when they trailed 50-29.

But they came to life in the third quarter.

Trailing by 17 midway through the period, the Brazilians went on an 11-1 run that included three-pointers from Karen and Adriana and closed the gap to 57-49.

Australia stayed comfortably ahead yet the Brazilians, who lost to Korea in their opener, refused to go away.

A Summerton three-pointer extended the lead to 12, but a Kelly three-point play reduced the deficit to 69-60 with 4:58 to go in the contest.

Australia would bend, but not break.

Jackson nailed back-to-back jumpers only for Claudia to hit a three-pointer and Micaela to score on a fast-break to leave Brazil trailing 73-65.

Suzy Batkovic then killed off the Brazilians.

The big center had success with a spin move in the lane and after a Brazil miss, received a pass from Lauren Jackson and scored down low for a 77-65 advantage.

She put an exclamation point on her mini-scoring spree with a three-pointer to put the Aussies on top at 80-65 and that’s how it finished.

FIBA