- The Opals lost their first game at the Olympics
- Australia stunned by Nigeria
- He leaves his campaign for medals on the brink of the abyss
The Opals were beaten by Nigeria in a stunning Olympic basketball upset that left Australia’s medal campaign on the brink of collapse.
The third-ranked Australians were beaten 75-62 by the African champions in Lille on Monday, with Sandy Brondello’s team turning the ball over 26 times and making just eight of 18 free throws in a nightmare start to their Games.
World No. 12 Nigeria took full advantage, firing from long range and rushing Australia’s shaky offense to its biggest Olympic basketball win.
This is a major setback for Lauren Jackson’s (six points, two rebounds in 12 minutes) plans to claim a fifth medal in two Games, as the 43-year-old returns to the Olympic stage for the first time since London 2012.
They will play world No. 5 Canada on Thursday and No. 7 France on Sunday, with only the top two in the group guaranteed a place in the quarter-finals in Paris.
The Opals, without a medal in their last two Olympic campaigns, started confidently, executing plays at will and leading 8-2 before it all fell apart.
The turnovers were contagious, and Marianna Tolo was the only Opal with time on the court who didn’t commit one, while six of her teammates had two each.
Half-time couldn’t come soon enough, Nigeria’s high pressing causing major headaches as the Opals continually lost the ball as they advanced up the pitch.
Australia shocks Nigeria in Paris women’s basketball
Opals face uphill battle to win Olympic medal
An 11-0 run, with 17 points from a spirited Ezinne Kalu (19 points), gave Nigeria a 41-28 lead at the main break.
Three-pointers from Sami Whitcomb and Alanna Smith (15 points, seven rebounds) helped the Opals find some rhythm and quickly closed to within five points with a 12-4 start to the third quarter.
It was a two-point game early in the final period and an Opals lead seemed inevitable.
But once again the Australians were their own worst enemies, a Jackson fumble under the basket created a five-point lead when Nigeria’s Elizabeth Balogun drilled a deep three-pointer at the other end.
Missed free throws were just as tough to take: at one point the Australians were just one of six, costing them another lead.
Nigerian captain Amy Okonkwo needed no further prompting, sinking a three-pointer to put her team ahead by seven points entering the final four minutes and sparking tears of joy after the end of regulation.