The US edged nearer to an unprecedented eighth straight ladies’s basketball Olympic crown on Wednesday, ending the historic run of Nigeria with an 88-74 quarter-final victory.
Two-time WNBA Most Useful Participant A’Ja Wilson scored 20 factors and grabbed 11 rebounds to tempo a US aspect that would break a tie with the US males’s basketball group for essentially the most consecutive Olympic golds — set from 1936-68.
Jackie Younger added 15 factors and Breanna Stewart — one other two-time WNBA MVP chipped in 13.
The US will face Australia within the semi-finals on Friday after the Opals noticed off Serbia 85-67.
France beat Olympic newcomers Germany 84-71 to arrange a semi-final towards European champions Belgium, 79-66 winners over beforehand unbeaten Spain.
France, led by 24 factors from Marine Johannes, delighted followers, however the US had been the massive draw at Bercy Area.
NBA celebrity LeBron James and USA teammate Bam Adebayo had been courtside for the conflict between the US dynasty and the primary group from Africa, male or feminine, to make the Olympic basketball quarter-finals.
James and Adebayo, having fun with an evening off earlier than tackling Serbia within the males’s semi-finals on Thursday, sat subsequent to US swimming greats Michael Phelps and Katie Ledecky.
Nigeria, who’ve made bodily play a trademark, regarded something however intimidated by the powerhouse People as they traded buckets within the opening minutes.
Diana Taurasi attempting to turn into the primary Olympic basketball participant to win six gold medals, got here off the bench and drilled a three-pointer to place the US up 24-12 late within the first quarter.
A steal and a layup by Promise Amukamara reduce the deficit to single digits however each time Nigeria gave the impression to be making headway the People answered with a run.
They closed the primary half on a 14-4 surge. Breanna Stewart drained a three-pointer then received unfastened for a layup within the closing minute to push the US result in 52-33 on the break.
The US launched the third quarter with a 10-0 run and pushed the result in 76-46 earlier than Amukamara got here up with a steal and raced the size of the court docket for a layup to finish the quarter.
Ultimately, the US simply had an excessive amount of firepower, however the trail-blazing Nigerians, who had been led by 19 factors from Amukamara with 16 from Ezinne Kalu, departed to a heat ovation from followers.
Subsequent up for the US is Australia, who had 22 factors and 13 rebounds from Alanna Smith in a convincing victory over Serbia.
The Australians, silver medallists in 2000, 2004 and 2008, are into the semi-finals for the primary time since 2012 once they earned bronze.
– ‘Throwing the primary punch’ –
Australia related on 58 per cent of their photographs within the first half, out-scoring Serbia 22-11 within the second quarter to take management for good.
“In tournaments like this, the way you begin is the way you end, and we wished to come back out throwing the primary punch,” Smith mentioned.
Belgium, who reached the semi-finals for the primary time, face a troublesome conflict towards Tokyo bronze medallists France.
The hosts returned to the semi-finals in spectacular fashion, Johannes placing on an offensive present with loads of help from Gabby Williams and Alexia Cherry.
France took management with a 17-5 scoring run to open the second quarter and led by as many as 19 within the fourth.
Nyara Sabally, sidelined since struggling a head damage in Germany’s opener, returned to attain 20 factors.
However within the face of France’s feisty protection a German group that led in three-point taking pictures within the group related on simply 4 of 14 makes an attempt from past the arc.
Followers at Bercy Area had been already celebrating as the ultimate seconds ticked down when a person tried to sprint onto the court docket. He was rapidly tackled by safety and hustled away.
AFP
