OLYW - Second-half run sees Opals past China

LONDON (Olympics) - Australia pulled away from China in the fourth quarter of their Quarter-Final to win 75-60 and set up a showdown with the four-time reigning Olympic champions USA in Thursday's Semi-Finals.

Lauren Jackson surpassed Brazil legend Janeth Arcain as the all-time leading scorer in the Olympic Basketball Tournament for Women. Arcain had 535 points in her illustrious career. Jackson was on 524 before the win over China and her dozen in the game were just enough to see her set the new mark of 536.

China shot 47 percent in the first half to keep the game close. They trailed 22-16 at the end of the first quarter but rallied to go into the locker room at the break in front 36-35.

The game was up for grabs and when Lijie Miao made a pair of free-throws for a 50-47 with three minutes remaining in the third period, it gave the Chinese a fighting chance.

However, the Australians responded with a 9-0 run spearheaded by Jenna O'Hea and Liz Cambage that gave them the lead back.

Fengwu Sun's team got within two on several occasions in the fourth quarter but when Cambage converted a three-point play and Jackson buried a three-pointer, it swung the game in the Opals favour for good.

Jackson then scored on a lay-up inside with 3:45 left to play to break Arcain's record.

Cambage finished with 17 points and seven rebounds, while Jackson had 12 and four.

"China played a very good first half. They shot exceptionally well and executed well," said Australia coach Carrie Graf.

"We couldn't get away from them but late on our ability to get stops and run helped us."

Asked about Jackson's record, Graf said it was a huge achievement.

"It's been a unique Olympics for Lauren. First she was Australia's flagbearer at the Opening Ceremony and now breaking the scoring record is another landmark. But knowing her, she would trade that for the game (Australia lost) against France," she said.
 
O'Hea said the win all started with an improved defense in the second half.

"The first half our defense wasn't very good but we picked it up in the second half and kept them to 60 points which is a great effort for us," she said.

"We got stops on defense, we got clean rebounds and we ran and got fastbreak points. Our team is best when we're able to get quick and easy baskets. That ignited our enthusiasm and passion for the game and we got the win."

Zengyu Ma paced China with 15 points and Miao added 13 for China and Sun praised his players for their efforts.

"We played at a very high level for three quarters. We were facing the superb great two bigs (Jackson and Cambage) of Australia and used every effort of our team and our bigs.

"But after three quarters, our conditioning was not good and we lost."

FIBA