Australia’s Opals loom as a strong medal chance as they get their women’s basketball campaign underway against Nigeria tonight (from 7pm AEST).
But Nigeria is threatening an upset after a fast-paced first quarter saw Australia fall behind 18-17.
The Opals made a strong start to Monday night’s game, opening up an early 8-2 lead against a sloppy Nigeria side that made three turnovers in the first two minutes.
Forward Ezi Magbegor was heavily involved on both ends with a layup and assist while Jade Melbourne had seven of Australia’s first 13 points in the game to make an immediate impact in her Olympic debut.
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The Opals led 13-5 but Nigeria quickly was able to tie it up as Amy Okonkwo first made a triple before a pair of Australia turnovers gifted the opposition five more quick points.
Lauren Jackson, playing in her first Olympics since 2012, entered the game with Australia leading 13-8 and had a nice block to deny a driving Blessing Ejiofor late in the quarter.
Overall though neither team was able to get into any real offensive rhythm, committing a combined 14 turnovers in a frantic first quarter.
Australia (No.3) is the highest-ranked team in its group with Nigeria (No.12) the lowest, the group also featuring Canada (No.5) and France (No.7).
Having barely escaped the group stage in Tokyo by a single point, the Opals ran into the USA in the quarter-finals, and will be hoping to win their group this time to avoid the favourites for gold for as long as possible.
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Elsewhere Tokyo bronze medallist Harry Garside’s Olympic campaign gets underway tonight against Hungary’s Richard Kovacs.
Fighting at 63.5kg (lightweight), Garside is seeded fifth and only needs to win two fights to guarantee himself a medal, given all four semi-finalists are awarded one.
In the equestrian, Australia’s Chris Burton is in contention for a medal in the individual eventing, having finished equal-third in the dressage phase and third in the cross country phase, with the jumping to come tonight.
Tristan Carter is hoping to repeat Jess Fox’s feats in the canoe slalom, with the Aussie qualifying 12th-fastest for tonight’s C1 semi-final.
The Aussie women’s rugby sevens team is also in action again with the quarter-finals held in the early hours of Tuesday morning. They are considered a strong medal chance.
AUSSIES IN ACTION — DAY 3
All times AEST
5pm: Men’s Beach Volleyball — Australia vs Italy (Mark Nicolaidis. Izac Carracher)
5.30pm: Rowing Heats
6pm: Men’s Hockey — Australia vs Ireland (Kookaburras)
7pm: Women’s Basketball — Australia vs Nigeria (Opals)
7pm: Swimming Heats
7pm: Men’s Diving — Synchronised 10m Platform Final (Domonic Bedggood, Cassiel Rousseau)
7pm: Equestrian — Eventing Team and Individual Jumping Qualifying (Chris Burton, Shane Rose)
8:20pm: Boxing — Men’s 63.5kg Round of 16, Harry Garside vs Richard Kovacs
10.30pm: Women’s Rugby Sevens — Australia vs Ireland
11pm: Equestrian — Eventing Individual Jumping Final (Chris Burton)
11.30pm: Men’s Canoe Slalom — C1 Semifinal (Tristan Carter)
1am: Women’s Hockey — Australia vs Great Britain (Hockeyroos)
1.20am: Men’s Canoe Slalom — C1 Final (Tristan Carter)
3am: Men’s Surfing — Round 3
4.30am — Swimming finals
5am: Women’s Rugby Sevens Quarterfinals
6am: Women’s Beach Volleyball — Australia vs USA (Mariafe Artacho del Solar, Taliqua Clancy)
7.48am: Women’s Surfing — Round 3
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Source Agencies
