Rio 2016: Day 8 in women’s basketball

Doesn’t it seem as though group play just came and went like that? That is where we are at in women’s basketball at the Olympics with group play winding down and the knockout round upon us.

Australia vs. Belarus

We have all had those experiences in life where we feel as if there was a problem that needed more than the minimum amount of care in order to be fixed. Then we feel as if we had conquered something we had tried to for a while, only for more issues to arise.

Enter the Olympic women’s basketball team representing Belarus. It was a tall task going up against undefeated Australia, and Belarus had a lead for three quarters. Thanks to a late rally, Australia concluded its sweep of Group A by virtue of a 74-66 victory against Belarus.

The Opals set themselves up nicely for the come-from-behind victory with 28 points combined from Liz Cambage (17) and Penny Taylor (11). Despite Belarus leading by seven at the end of the third quarter (and at one point by as many as 13), Australia’s defense stymied Belarus in the final period, holding them to only seven points in the fourth quarter.

Belarus had four players in double-digits for points—including Lindsey Harding who finished with 16 and Yelena Leuchanka with 15.

Turkey vs. Brazil

Brazil’s best chance at being able to land a victory in these Olympics came against Turkey on Saturday afternoon. The team has played in front of its home fans this entire Olympics at the Youth Arena, but has not been able to break through with a win.

Turkey and Brazil ended up going to double overtime at the Youth Arena, but even the added periods of free hoops would not be enough as Turkey prevailed over the team representing the host nation by a final score of 79-76.

With under a minute left in the second overtime, Iziane Castro made a two-point jump shot that got Brazil within one at 77-76. After she fouled Lara Sanders, who finished with 23 points for the game, she made both of her free throws, enabling the lead to increase to 79-76.

A pair of ensuing three-point attempts for Brazil did not find the center of the hoop.

Along with Sanders’ 23, Isil Alben added 18 and they got 14 each from Nevriye Yilmaz and Sebnem Nezahat Kimyacioglu.

For Brazil, Castro finished with 22, Clarissa dos Santos had 17, Erika de Souza scored 16, and Damiris Dantas ended up with 12.

Japan vs. France

Today was certainly your day if you were looking for all three games on the schedule at the Youth Arena to be close games.

Coming into this game, Japan and France had one thing in common—they both only had one loss in group play—and it was at the hands of the undefeated Australian team. That of course would change for one of these teams, and in this case, it would change for France as Japan defeated them by a final score of 79-71.

A major reason for the Japan victory was the success the team had at the charity stripe. Japan attempted 15 foul shots and made all 15 foul shots. Japan also received a major boost from the play of Asami Yoshida (24 points), Sanae Motokawa (17 points), and Ramu Tokashiki (13 points, seven rebounds).

For France, they got 14 each from Olivia Epoupa and Isabelle Yacoubou, who was coming off of the bench. France had a tough time overcoming the 25 turnovers committed in this game.

Japan also outrebounded France 43-22, including having a 17-6 edge on the offensive glass.

Today…