The Australian Opals have fallen to France in their opening game of the FIBA Women’s World Cup on Thursday night. | By Roy Ward
Lauren Jackson’s return was met with a roar but the Australian Opals’ FIBA Women’s World Cup campaign started with a loss to France on Thursday night.
Australia face Mali on Friday and Serbia on Sunday, two wins will have their future in their own hands heading into the final group game against Canada.Bec Allen led the Opals with 16 points while Ezi Magbegor had nine points and Marianna Tolo eight points.“We’ve got to be able to hit shots, we’ve got to be able to get to the basket. Defensively, we’ve got to be able to shut people down and that’s what this game is going to come down to at this tournament.
With a minute to go in the term, Jackson nailed her first three and became just the third woman to reach 600 points in world cups. Reeve is happy despite a disrupted preparation as players were knocked out of the WNBA play-offs and headed Down Under.American superstar Breanna Stewart top-scored with 22 points, Jewell Lloyd added 14 points and so did Alyssa Thomas, who only joined the team on Wednesday morning after her Connecticut Suns lost to the Aces in the season-decider.
“It’s like having to transition from your WNBA team to the USA team and do it in a matter of seconds,” Stewart said. “You don’t get to feel those feelings after your season has ended so I really appreciate AT and Bri getting over here as soon as possible and what they did today. They were productive.
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