|
 |   |
EVENTS Fantasy Central Inside Game Multimedia Central Statitudes Your Turn Message Boards Email Newsletters Golf Guide Cities Work in Sports
CNNSI.com GROUP
COMMERCE
|  |
Bring on the U.S. Australians eliminate Brazil in semifinals
SYDNEY, Australia (AP) -- Australia's first chance at a gold medal in women's Olympic basketball came from the old guard and the new center. The team with the home-continent advantage beat Brazil 64-52 Friday to advance to the gold medal game for the first time. The best Australia had ever managed before was a bronze in 1996. Now, the worst it can get is a silver when it plays the United States in the gold medal match on Saturday. "The only thing that could beat this is to go that one step further," four-time Olympian Michelle Timms said. "I'm very proud to be the captain of this Australian basketball team." The game with Brazil couldn't have gotten off to a better start as Australia (7-0) hit its first four shots and went on to an 11-0 lead. The sellout crowd of 14,698 at the SuperDome was ready for an afternoon blowout, only Brazil hung around and hung around and was within 44-40 with 10:02 to play. Then a jumper by Trish Fallon started an 8-0 run that finished with 3-pointers by Timms, the 35-year-old veteran, and Lauren Jackson, the 19-year-old considered the future of Australian women's basketball.
The three-pointer was the only basket for Timms, who has been limited to about six minutes a game as she recovers from arthroscopic knee surgery after playing for the WNBA's Phoenix Mercury. "It was nice to be in the mix this time," Timms said. "I told myself before the game to be ready to give what a veteran can give. I had only one three-pointer and one from 2-range the entire tournament." "I don't feel a thing," she said about her knee. "I know it's got one more game in it. I wanted a chance and I'm really grateful." Australia's biggest lead was 56-42 with 6:15 to play on a layup by Michelle Griffiths. Brazil (3-4) never got closer than eight points the rest of the way. Jackson and Sandy Brondello each had 16 points for Australia. Brondello scored the first six points of the game. "Sandy set the tone for us and got us off to a great start," Timms said. Jackson was the only Australian player who wouldn't hedge on a gold medal opponent. "The U.S. is obviously a great team but we're playing outstanding and have improved 100 percent since we lost to them," Jackson said, referring to an 83-62 exhibition loss on Sept. 9. "We know we can beat the United States." Janeth Arcain, who plays for the WNBA's Houston Comets, had 21 points for Brazil, two points above her average for the tournament. Alessandra Oliveira had 16 points and 14 rebounds in playing the entire 40 minutes. It was the second time Australia beat Brazil in the tournament. It won 81-70 in the preliminary round. "The Australian team is an excellent team and is on the path to a gold medal," Brazil coach Antonio Carlos Barbosa said. "They are also a team that has the full support of the audience and that is always good." Australia advanced to the semifinals with a 76-48 victory over Poland, while Brazil got there with a 68-67 victory over Russia. Brazil was trying to get to the gold medal game for the second straight Olympics. It lost to the United States in the 1996 final.
| ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
