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Australia’s hopes of a primary FIBA ladies’s Asia Cup basketball title have nose-dived after it was thumped 91-66 by a hot-shooting Japan in Sydney.
Coming off two massive wins, the Opals scored the primary eight factors and had been up 15-6 on Wednesday, however Japan took management of the sport after a rare second-quarter surge.
Japan scored the final 17 factors of that quarter and Australia missed its final 13 makes an attempt from the sphere.
The Opals had been outscored 22-2 within the final seven-and-a-half minutes, with Japan nailing six three-pointers over that point as they turned an eight-point deficit right into a 44-32 halftime lead.
Australia couldn’t get the deficit under 9 within the second half, with Japan pulling away to steer by 19 at three-quarter time and by as a lot as 30 within the fourth.
Japan hit 17 three-pointers at 51 per cent and shot 54 per cent total from the sphere, whereas conserving Australia to only 39 per cent.
The Opals had simply two double-digit scorers, Maddison Rocci with 12 and Alice Kunek 11, as Australia struggled to take care of Japan’s stress, slick transition sport and long-range taking pictures.
Japan, which has received the previous 5 Asia Cups, took prime spot within the group and booked a semi-final spot.
Australia should take the longer path to the final 4, needing to win a classification match in opposition to Korea on Friday to face Group B winner China, which completed with a 3-0 document after a 87-81 time beyond regulation win over Korea.
“Japan turned up the stress in that second quarter. We had been a bit surprised once they began hitting all these threes and subsequent sport we have to be manner higher at regrouping so much faster,” Opals captain Tess Madgen mentioned.
Australia’s top benefit didn’t translate into dominance on the boards as they had been out-rebounded 33-31 and in addition made 4 extra turnovers than Japan.
“As the sport went on, they floor us down with their stress and physicality,” Opals performing head coach Shannon Seebohm mentioned.
“They managed the boards and we most likely simply weren’t disciplined sufficient on defence to get sufficient stops and generate any straightforward factors out of our transition sport.”
The Opals burst out of the blocks, scoring the primary eight factors, with Darcee Garbin notching 5 inside the primary minute, whereas Japan missed its first 4 subject aim makes an attempt.
Mai Yamamoto triggered Japan’s comeback with 4 second-quarter triples, ending with 19 factors, one behind.Monica Okoye.
In one other match, Australian-born guard and Australian age-group consultant Tahlia Tupaea scored 20 for New Zealand in its 76-45 win over Lebanon.
The victor of Friday’s match between the Tall Ferns and the Philippines, which beat Taiwan 92-81 on Wednesday, will face Japan within the semi-finals.
-AAP