Day four of the women’s basketball tournament marks a rest day for the teams in Group B, as the two undefeated teams in Group A France and Australia do battle with hosts Brazil looking to secure their first win at the third time of asking against Belarus, who are also looking for their first victory.
The other unbeaten side in Group A, Japan round up day four as they square off against Turkey.
OPALS STAY UNBEATEN, HALT FRENCH STREAK
Australia have maintained their unbeaten start to the women’s basketball tournament at the Rio Olympics by ending France’s now previously spotless streak, beating them 89-71 in today’s opener.
A close first quarter, was broken open in the second period when the Opals pulled away thanks to a near flawless display from Penny Taylor and Elizabeth Cambage.
It was the former who stood out as the veteran Taylor posted a game-high and Olympic-high 31 points, beating her previous mark of 26, which she put up in her first ever summer games appearance at Athens 2004.
HEARTBREAK FOR HOSTS AS BELARUS COMPLETES COMEBACK WIN
Belarus completed an 18-point comeback to snatch a 65-63 win over hosts Brazil as the European nation secured their first win of their Olympic campaign.
Brazil drop to 0-3 and now need to win their remaining two games in order to advance to the quarter-finals but they will look at this latest loss as one that hurt the most as they led 38-20 with 6:57 left in the second quarter only for the Belorussians to pull the deficit back gradually and took the lead for good with 52 seconds left for the win.
Tatyana Troina led Belarus with 18 points, as they move to 1-2.
SANDERS PUTS ON SHOW AS TURKEY BEAT JAPAN
Lara Sanders almost single-handedly ended Japan’s unbeaten start to this year’s Olympic Games as Turkey beat Japan 76-62 in the final game of day four.
Sanders ended by leading all scorers with 36 points as the Turks meant business right from the start by they finished the first quarter on top 24-9 and they never looked back as they secured their first win in Rio.
Japan suffered their first defeat of the Rio Games.
