The Opals bounce back as Germany earns quarterfinal spot in Olympic women's basketball debut
Canada's Aaliyah Edwards, left, and Canada's Kayla Alexander, right, reach for a rebound along with Australia's Steph Talbot during a women's basketball game at the 2024 Summer Olympics, Thursday, Aug. 1, 2024, in Villeneuve-d'Ascq, France. (AP Photo/Michael Conroy)
By TERESA M. WALKER AP Sports Writer
VILLENEUVE-D’ASCQ, France (AP) — Sami Whitcomb scored 19 points as Australia rebounded from a surprising opening loss in the Olympic women’s basketball tournament and pushed Canada to the brink of elimination with a 70-65 victory Thursday in group play.
Canada, ranked fifth in the world, now must root for host France to beat Nigeria later Thursday to keep its hopes alive to reach the elimination round in Paris. The Canadians conclude group play Sunday against Nigeria.
Australia also came in needing a win, or a France victory over Nigeria could have eliminated the Opals with a game left in pool play. Australia reached the quarterfinals three years ago only to lose to the U.S. in the Tokyo Games.
Germany continued its dazzling Olympic debut by beating Japan 75-64 on Thursday to clinch a spot in Paris for the quarterfinals. Spain and Serbia grabbed the first quarterfinal berths with wins Wednesday.
France also can clinch its group and a quarterfinal berth with a win over Nigeria. The African nation has its own hopes of qualifying, needing both a win and an Australia victory over Canada.
The U.S., chasing an unprecedented eighth straight Olympic gold medal, needs only to beat Belgium in Thursday’s finale to book its spot in Paris.
Canada’s best Olympic finish came in 1984 at fourth. Australia came in ranked third in the world for its 10th Olympics berth but lost forward Bec Allen to another ankle injury last week.
Steph Talbot, Marianna Tolo and Cayla George each added 11 points for the Opals. Ezi Magbegor had 10.
Bridget Carleton led Canada with 19 points. Kia Nurse had 12, and Kayla Alexander added 10.
The Canadians scored the first five points, a lead that didn’t last. Australia led 18-16 after the first quarter and 38-32 at halftime.
Syla Swords, set to play college basketball at Michigan, drove to the basket for a layup that pulled the Canadians within 46-44. But Isobel Borlase answered with a floater, and Tolo’s layup in the final seconds put the Opals up 51-44 going into the fourth.
They led by as many as 13 in finishing off a much-needed win.
Germany 75, Japan 64
Satou Sabally scored 23 of her 33 points in the first half to help Germany clinch its spot in Paris. Her sister, Nyara, didn’t play, with the WNBA’s New York Liberty forward in the concussion protocol after being helped off the court in the Germans’ opening win.
Satou Sabally, a forward for the WNBA’s Dallas Wings, handled her absence easily, tying for the eighth-most points in an Olympic game.
Japan tied it at 44 on a 3-pointer by Maki Takada with 8:22 left in the third quarter, then Leonie Fiebich scored inside to put Germany ahead to stay. Germany finished the third on a 15-5 run for a 59-49 lead going into the fourth. It led by as many as 12 to remain undefeated in pool play.
Alexis Peterson added 11 points for Germany, and Luisa Geiselsoder had 10 points and 10 rebounds.
Japan, which won silver at the 2021 Tokyo Games, will need a win and some help Sunday wrapping up against Belgium to grab one of the final two quarterfinal spots. Germany concludes pool play against the U.S.
Takada led Japan with 15, Saori Miyazaki had 13 and Saki Hayashi 11.
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AP Summer Olympics: https://apnews.com/hub/2024-paris-olympic-games