Australia’s women’s basketball team ensured themselves a podium placement in a nail-biting game against Belgium to earn their first Olympic medal since 2012.
The Opals defeated the Belgian team 85-81 in their Bronze medal game on Sunday, with a strong final quarter helping them to victory.
The game was fiercely contested by both nations with just one point splitting them at the end of the first three quarters.
Australia was leading at the end of the first quarter 20-19, which they managed to preserve by the end of the second after each side scored 17 points (37-36).
Belgium came out of the break the stronger of the two sides as they managed to score 25 points to Australia’s 23 in the third quarter and sneak themselves in front 1-60.
The Opals needed a strong finish to regain the ascendency and they managed to do it as they managed 25 points to Belgium’s 21 in the last period of the game, an effort that was enough to win the game 85-81 and take the bronze as a result.
Ezi Magbegor stood out as Australia’s chief protagonist in the game with 30 points, 13 rebounds and three blocks while Belgium’s Julie Vanloo also had a stellar performance (scoring 26 points).
The victory notably ensured veteran Lauren James of her fifth Olympic medal, having been part of the squads that won medals in the 2000, 2004, 2008 and 2012 Games).
It also capped off a phenomenal effort from Australia’s Olympics team which saw them finish fourth in the medal tally, having won 18 gold, 19 silver and 16 bronze medals.
