FIBA Basketball
FIBA - Opals hammer Nigerian women to reach final
MELBOURNE (Commonwealth Games) - Australia's women brushed aside the challenge of Nigeria with consummate ease on Tuesday to reach the final of the Commonwealth Games.Superstar Lauren Jackson continued her fine tournament, scoring 24 of her 37 points in the opening half, as the Opals claimed a 105-49 triumph
MELBOURNE (Commonwealth Games) - Australia's women brushed aside the challenge of Nigeria with consummate ease on Tuesday to reach the final of the Commonwealth Games.
Superstar Lauren Jackson continued her fine tournament, scoring 24 of her 37 points in the opening half, as the Opals claimed a 105-49 triumph.
Australia, the tournament favourites, were quickly into their stride and Nigeria were 16-0 down before they got their first points on the board, Ezinne James successfully scoring two free throws.
It then took Nigeria until midway through the second period to reach double figures, by which stage Australia had accumulated 42 points and were well on the way to victory.
The tournament hosts will now play the winner of Tuesday's second semi-final between New Zealand and England in the final, a match Jackson admits her side are desperate to win.
"There's pressure on us from everyone to win gold," said the superstar forward/centre. "We just want to win the gold medal so bad."
Australia should have point guard Tully Bevilaqua available for the final. Bevilaqua missed the game against Nigeria with an ankle injury but coach Jan Stirling insists it is not a problem.
"She'll be fine. She could've played this match, and wanted to pay, but we need her to be as close to 100% as she can be for the gold medal game because New Zealand have strength in their guard rotations, so Tully be important in that sense," said Stirling.
In the battle for the lower places, India defeated Malta 80-47 at the start of the day. Geethu Jose was the game's leading scorer with 25 points while she also hauled down 12 rebounds for India.
Malta's Josephine Grima, who entered the game averaging 18 points in the tournament, poured in 22 points as well as hauling down 22 rebounds. Grima received precious little support from her team-mates though, with Malta shooting just 25% from the floor, including one one of 13 from three-point range.
From Mike Perez, PA Sport, Melbourne Exclusively for FIBA
Superstar Lauren Jackson continued her fine tournament, scoring 24 of her 37 points in the opening half, as the Opals claimed a 105-49 triumph.
Australia, the tournament favourites, were quickly into their stride and Nigeria were 16-0 down before they got their first points on the board, Ezinne James successfully scoring two free throws.
It then took Nigeria until midway through the second period to reach double figures, by which stage Australia had accumulated 42 points and were well on the way to victory.
The tournament hosts will now play the winner of Tuesday's second semi-final between New Zealand and England in the final, a match Jackson admits her side are desperate to win.
"There's pressure on us from everyone to win gold," said the superstar forward/centre. "We just want to win the gold medal so bad."
Australia should have point guard Tully Bevilaqua available for the final. Bevilaqua missed the game against Nigeria with an ankle injury but coach Jan Stirling insists it is not a problem.
"She'll be fine. She could've played this match, and wanted to pay, but we need her to be as close to 100% as she can be for the gold medal game because New Zealand have strength in their guard rotations, so Tully be important in that sense," said Stirling.
In the battle for the lower places, India defeated Malta 80-47 at the start of the day. Geethu Jose was the game's leading scorer with 25 points while she also hauled down 12 rebounds for India.
Malta's Josephine Grima, who entered the game averaging 18 points in the tournament, poured in 22 points as well as hauling down 22 rebounds. Grima received precious little support from her team-mates though, with Malta shooting just 25% from the floor, including one one of 13 from three-point range.
From Mike Perez, PA Sport, Melbourne Exclusively for FIBA