PARIS (AP) — Jade Melbourne scored 14 of her 18 points by halftime and Australia advanced to the Paris Olympics semifinals in women’s basketball by routing Serbia 85-67 Wednesday.
The Opals had to win their group-play finale to reach the elimination round, and they got a bit of revenge beating the country that stunned them in the quarterfinals of the 2016 Rio Games.
Australia came into these Games ranked third in the world, and the Opals are looking for their first Olympic medal since taking bronze at the 2012 London Games.
Their semifinal opponent Friday will be either the U.S. or Nigeria, who play later Wednesday. The Americans are the reigning Olympic champs looking for an unprecedented eighth gold. Nigeria opened these games by beating the Opals for the country’s first Olympic win since 2004 in Athens.
In the other quarterfinals at Bercy Arena, Spain will play Belgium and host nation France faces Germany, which is looking to extend its Olympic debut. Those winners will meet in the semifinals Friday for the chance to play for gold.
Serbia is going home at the earliest point of the country’s third straight Olympic appearances in a stunning loss that left the players sobbing or trying to hold back tears in the final minutes. The Serbs won bronze in their Olympic debut at the Rio Games and finished fourth three years ago at the Tokyo Games.
The Opals led 48-32 at halftime. In Tuesday’s men’s quarterfinals, Australia blew a 24-point lead and lost in overtime to Serbia. The women never came close to that Wednesday.
Alanna Smith scored nine of her 22 points in the third quarter, and Australia pushed its lead to 28 at one point. Cayla George added 17 and Sami Whitcomb had 15 for the Opals.
Jovana Nogic led Serbia with 17 points. Angela Dugalic added 14 and Ivana Raca 10.
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