Lauren Jackson's return could not prevent the Opals from losing 70-57 to Olympic bronze medallists France in their first game of the FIBA Women's World Cup.
Thursday night's loss at Sydney's Qudos Bank Arena was Australia's first to France from six World Cup meetingsThe loss leaves the Opals with work to do to progress from Group B, the more competitive of the two World Cup pools Thursday night's loss at Sydney's Qudos Bank Arena was Australia's first to France from six World Cup meetings and broke a 19-game winning streak in the qualifying round of the World Cup dating back to 1994.
The loss leaves the Opals with work to do to progress from Group B, the more competitive of the two World Cup pools. Australia's most decorated female basketballer, 41-year-old Jackson made a cameo from the bench in her first competitive game for the Opals since announcing her international retirement in 2013. She made her presence felt in defence early on, but had her role reduced in the second half when fellow centre Marianna Tolo began to take the contest on and command more minutes. Jackson's first and only points of the game came from deep with a minute to play in the first quarter and restored Australia's lead.After sitting out the third quarter, Jackson came on and attempted to settle her side's nerves in the final four minutes but the Opals could not reel the French in after they broke away in the second half."It's not the way we wanted to start off. "[France] played very physically. They took us out of a lot of the stuff that we wanted to do and we didn't respond in the right way." The final score perhaps did not do justice to a tight contest — the lead changed seven times in the first half. Opening night nerves struck both sides but Bec Allen stood up early for the Opals and had 11 points to her name by the half. France's Gabby Williams, right, and France's Sarah Michel, left, attempt to stop Australia's Bec Allen. France brought the better defensive pressure, pouncing on Australia's lapses to score more prolifically from turnovers and pick and roll through the paint for easy points. The Opals used size to their advantage and preferred to score from rebounds but were left to rue some wayward shooting. The French lifted their intensity after half-time but Tolo kept the Opals in the fight and denied France as they looked to stretch out to a more comfortable lead in the third quarter. But led by former first-round WNBA draft pick Gabby Williams, France held their lead through the second half by shooting more accurately and muscling up in defence."You can't shoot at 26 per cent [from the field] and expect to win."
Australia Latest News, Australia Headlines
Similar News:You can also read news stories similar to this one that we have collected from other news sources.
Green, Wade lead charge as Australia beat India in opening T20 clashAustralia have won the opening game of their T20 series against India clash by 4 wickets, passing the home side’s target of 208 with four balls to spare.
Read more »
Australia beats India in first T20 thanks to Matthew Wade and Cameron GreenCameron Green shows Australian selectors what they will be missing at the T20 World Cup, while Matthew Wade steers the side home in a run chase against India.
Read more »
We couldn’t have built a less fair school system if we triedOpinion: Our framework of schools, our system, is broken and probably always has been, writes Chris Bonnor
Read more »
Safe infant sleep: consumer groups say Australian product regulation lagsWhile Australia has some of the strongest safety standards in the world for some baby products, consumer groups say regulatory blind spots are putting infants at risk
Read more »