Opals edge past Spain
18/09/2006
The Opals have continued their unbeaten run at the 2006 FIBA World Championships in Brazil, defeating Spain 72-68 in a hard-fought affair.
The Opals bounced out to a 22-10 lead by quarter-time, but with star Lauren Jackson in foul trouble and forced to sit out the majority of the second and third quarters Spain reduced the deficit to just six points by the last change.
Spain threw everything it could at Australia, but the Opals held on for a well-deserved win.
With Jackson held to only 11 points, a host of other players stepped up and had excellent matches.
Penny Taylor scored a team-high 13 points for the Opals, and Jenny Whittle netted 11 points.
Amaya Valdemoro from Spain was the leading scorer for the game with 19 points.
Australia's next opponent is host nation Brazil before a clash against Argentina on Monday.
In other matches, the US trounced Cuba 90-50, Brazil outclassed Lithuania 84-67, while Argentina edged past Canada 62-58.
France accounted for Russia 74-64, the Czech Republic beat China 79-73, and Korea knocked off Senegal 75-69 and Chinese Taipei scraped home against Nigeria 81-77.