A short-handed Australian team is still alive and into the last eight at the FIBA Women’s Basketball World Cup despite surrendering a 20-point three-quarter-time lead before ultimately beating Italy 82-80.
The Opals had a 69-49 lead heading into the final quarter of their qualification final against the Azzurre, but watched the Italians slowly chip away at it over the next eight minutes and 51 seconds before Costanza Verona’s three tied the game at 77 with 1:09 left.
Zitina Aokuso made a lay-up off Izzy Borlase’s drive to end a three-minute scoring drought for Australia and Ally Wilson’s clutch free throws gave them a four-point advantage when Italy was forced to intentionally foul with eight seconds left.
The great escape appeared to be complete until a long-range bomb by Vittoria Blasigh off the inbounds pass left Italy trailing by just one point with five seconds remaining.
Borlase was then sent to the line but made only one of two free throws to give Italy a chance for one last play while down by two, and Francesca Pasa appeared to catch the defence napping by going for the tie rather than the win.
The speedy guard burst past Borlase and got her left-handed lay-up onto the backboard as the siren sounded, but the ball just rolled off the right of the rim and the Opals survived.
“We still have an opportunity to keep fighting and that’s what we’re going to do,” coach Sandy Brondello said.
They moved into a quarterfinal against Spain, but will have to do it without some of their biggest stars.
Having already lost veteran Sami Whitcomb to a knee issue before the tournament and losing WNBA champion Alanna Smith to injury in their opening game against Puerto Rico, the Opals copped another huge blow against Italy.
Captain and star forward Ezi Magbegor played just four minutes of the clash before she went down during a drive to the basket.
Magbegor powered into a seam in the defence but was fouled from the side by Lorela Cubaj, causing her right knee to bend awkwardly inward.
Ezi Magbegor knew straight away she was in trouble. (Supplied: FIBA)
The Seattle Storm star immediately shouted in pain and hit the deck, appearing to be in tears on the floor before being helped off the court by training staff.
“It made my heart sink to see her go down,” Brondello said.
“She’s so impactful for us and we just pray that she’s OK. We don’t know. We’ll see what the result is tomorrow. She’s walking and that’s a good sign.”
Meanwhile, an ill Jade Melbourne played only three minutes.
The Opals are still alive and face Spain in the World Cup quarterfinals. (Getty Images: Mami Yasui/FIBA)
Borlase, a rookie guard with the WNBA’s Atlanta Dream, picked up the slack and scored a game-high 30 points on 7/13 shooting from the field while knocking down 14 of 16 free throws.
The 21-year-old was named player of the match as she became just the fourth Opal to score 30 points at a World Cup.
“Something we speak about a lot is the Opals legacy,” Borlase said.
“We really respect what the girls have done in previous tournaments. They’ve inspired us to want to play for Australia and I just hope I’ve inspired someone to tonight to want to play for Australia because there’s no greater honour.”
The tears were flowing for Italy after its second loss at the tournament by just one bucket, having missed a last-second three-pointer to lose 55-52 to reigning champions USA in the group stage.
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