Olympics Day 4 women’s basketball Recap

Australia vs. France

Only three games took place on the fourth day of action from the Youth Arena in Rio de Janiero as opposed to four each the first three days. The first featured an Australia team looking to advance to 3-0 for these Olympics.

They did just that via a 89-71 victory of France.

A penny for France’s thoughts—next time you play a team with Penny Taylor on said team, double team her every time she has the ball. She went off for 31 points and shot 77 percent from the field. Liz Cambage added another 16.

Olivia Epoupa dropped 15 in a losing effort for France. Sandrine Gruda and Endy Miyem had 10 each.

In the time it probably took to write this recap, Penny Taylor probably scored another two points vs. France.

Taylor’s huge game also probably took away from the fact that Australia grabbed twice as many offensive rebounds as France did. It was a 14-7 disparity on offensive rebounds in the Opals’ favor.

Brazil vs. Belarus

Brazilians thus far watching their country’s teams in the Olympics have been distressed enough thanks to the less-than-stellar performances of Neymar and its men’s soccer team. The women’s basketball team has not done much to lessen those blows.

Brazil’s matchup vs. Belarus had to be, to a lesser extent, a redux of its contest against Australia to open the Olympics—a matchup in which Brazil raced out to a huge lead with the crowd solidly in its corner only for the bottom to fall out.

Brazil began this game leading 28-16 after one quarter only to fall by two to Belarus by a final of 65-63.

Late in the fourth, Clarissa dos Santos converted on a two-point jumper to give Brazil a 63-62 lead with 1:18 left. Belarus’ Tatyana Troiana answered with a three a few seconds later that swayed the contest in favor of Belarus, 65-63.

Brazil had a couple of chances in the waning moments to either tie or take the lead, but missed on both attempts.

Troiana’s three gave her 18 points for the game. Yelena Leuchanka added 15 and Lindsey Harding pitched in with 12. Brazil got 23 from Damiris Dantas and 15 from dos Santos.

Turkey vs. Japan

Japan, prior to yesterday, had yet to lose in these Olympics. But things changed when Japan matched up with Turkey as they put the team representing the host country of the next Summer Games in the loss column, 76-62.

Turkey established that it was in control in this game practically from its beginning with an opening quarter in which they outscored Japan 24-9. That is Team USA-esque to say the least.

That is practically where the game was won. That along with Turkey’s ability to share the basketball. Turkey out-assisted Japan 24-13.

Oh, and let’s also not forget Lara Sanders. Just as Penny Taylor did to France, Sanders did to Japan with a 36-point performance and 78 percent from the field plus seven rebounds. Nevriye Yilmaz added 15 and Isil Alben scored 14.

Ramu Tokashiki had 13 points for Japan along with six rebounds.

Today…
Three more games on the hardwood today at the Youth Arena in Rio. Oh, and did we mention yesterday that…