Off-colour Opals shocked in Nigerian Olympic upset
The Opals have been turned over by Nigeria in a stunning Olympic basketball upset that’s left Australia’s medal campaign on the brink.
The No.3-ranked Australians were beaten 75-62 by the African champions in Lille on Monday, with Sandy Brondello’s side turning the ball over 26 times and making just eight-of-18 free throws in a nightmarish opening to their Games tilt.
World No.12 Nigeria made the most of it, firing away from long range and rushing Australia’s shaky offence to earn their greatest Olympic basketball win.
It’s a major dent in Lauren Jackson’s (six points, two rebounds in 12 minutes) plans for a fifth medal in as many Games, the 43-year-old back on the Olympic stage for the first time since London’s 2012 edition.
They’ll play world No.5 Canada on Thursday and No.7 France on Sunday, with only the pool’s top two sides guaranteed a berth in Paris’s quarter-final stage.
The Opals, without a medal in their last two Olympic campaigns, began with confidence, running plays at will and leading 8-2 before the wheels fell off.
Turnovers were contagious, with Marianna Tolo the only Opal with court time not to commit one while six of her teammates had two each.
Halftime couldn’t come soon enough, Nigeria’s high press causing significant headaches as the Opals continually coughed the ball up while walking it up court.
An 11-0 run, behind 17 points from a pumped-up Ezinne Kalu (19 points), gave Nigeria a 41-28 lead at the main break.
Triples to Sami Whitcomb and Alanna Smith (15 points, seven rebounds) helped as the Opals found some rhythm and quickly got within five points with a 12-4 start to the third term.
It was a two-point game early in the final term and an Opals’ lead seemed inevitable.
But again the Australians were their own worst enemies, a Jackson fumble under the hoop creating a five-point swing when Nigeria’s Elizabeth Balogun hit a deep three at the other end.
Missed free throws were just as tough to swallow, Australians at one stage making just one of six to cost themselves another lead.
Nigerian captain Amy Okonkwo didn’t need another invitation, burying a three-pointer to put her side ahead by seven entering the final four minutes and sparked tears of joy after full-time.
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