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Monday,
September 13, 1999
Opals shine against
Brazil
AUSTRALIA
75 BRAZIL 68
San Diego: Australian
centre Lauren Jackson
continued her scoring
spree at the US Olympic
Cup women's basketball
tournament on Saturday
when she posted 16 points
to hand the Opals their
second straight win in
the event.
The world No 3 Opals
overcame tough resistance
from Brazil to record a
75-68 victory, with
Jackson again
contributing vital
baskets for the Aussies
following her 31-point
haul against European
champions Poland in the
tournament opener on
Friday.
The Opals closed the
half with a 5-0 run which
gave them a four-point
buffer, going into the
break 42-38.
World No 4 Brazil came
out strongly in the
second half and led the
Aussies by five points
with just under 13
minutes remaining.
However, Australia's
Jo Hill added six points
in a 16-2 run that saw
the Opals lead by nine
points with seven minutes
remaining.
Brazil again fought
back to trail by five
points with 30 seconds to
play.
Australian coach Tom
Maher said it was an
extremely physical game.
"All of the girls
contributed, with Jo Hill
and guards [Michele]
Timms, [Annie] La Fleur
and [Kristi] Harrower
closing out the
game," he said.
"Trish Fallon
also showed a good return
to form, particularly
defensively in the second
half."
Carla Porter and La
Fleur both had solid
games, adding 15 and 11
points respectively, with
Jo Hill coming off the
bench to score 10 points.
Brazil's Adriana
Santos led all scorers
with 19 points, with
Helen Luz supporting her
with 12 points.
Australia are without
three of their most
experienced players for
the tournament.
Vice-captain Rachael
Sporn is recuperating
from a knee operation,
Michelle Brogan is
pregnant and Sandy
Brondello is nursing an
injury from the WNBA
play-offs.
Round-robin play will
finish on Sunday with the
much anticipated
Australia-US game, with
Brazil and Poland meeting
in the earlier game.
The top two teams will
then play off for the
gold medal on Monday,
while the other two teams
will contest the bronze
medal match.
AAP
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