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27/08/2004Semi-Finals Women: AUS 88 - BRA 75
Australia stops Brazil to reach final
ATHENS - Australia will try once again for a gold medal in Olympic Women's Basketball after surging past Brazil 88-75 in the last quarter of its semifinal at the Olympic Indoor Hall on Friday.
In the gold medal game on Saturday, Australia will go up against the United States in a replay of the Sydney 2000 Olympic final.
Brazil will go for its second consecutive Olympic bronze medal against Russia, also on Saturday.
Friday's semifinal victory against Brazil guaranteed Australia a third straight medal, after silver in Sydney and bronze at Atlanta 1996. But it was not easy.
Brazil stayed closer than it had in a preliminary game just five days earlier, but could not withstand a barrage of 3-point shots by Australia in the final quarter.
Lauren JACKSON hit three of her five triples in the last quarter and finished with 26 points, but the semifinal proved Australia is not a one-woman team. Veteran Trish FALLON added 14 points, while the trio of Alicia POTO, Kristi HARROWER and Penny TAYLOR each scored 12.
Iziane MARQUES scored 25, Alessandra OLIVEIRA 20 and Janeth ARCAIN 15 for Brazil, which came within four points of the lead late in the third quarter, but could get no closer.
Brazil had taken early control by going inside to OLIVEIRA for three quick layups, the last of which meant an 11-6 lead. JACKSON hadn't been involved until then, but after a timeout, Australia posted her inside, where she scores six points in a 9-0 run to a 15-11 lead. MARQUES then rallied Brazil with eight consecutive points, including a pair of triples, to tie 21-21 at the end of 10 minutes.
After OLIVEIRA and ARCAIN scored to put Brazil back in front 25-23 early in the second quarter, JACKSON and POTO struck from the 3-point arc to send Australia ahead again 30-25. Brazil stayed close until another pair of triples, by Belinda SNELL and HARROWER, boosted the Australia lead to 40-33. It was all Brazil could do, with OLIVEIRA's eighth basked of the first half, to stay within eight at 42-36 at halftime.
JACKSON's second 3-pointer jump-started Australia after the break. With two baskets by FALLON, their lead climbed to 53-44 before Brazil used eight points by MARQUES to approach again. When Helen LUZ drove to the basket, Brazil was within 61-56, but HARROWER finished the third quarter with a layup that left a 63-56 scoreboard.
Australia finally broke the game open from downtown in the fourth quarter. POTO and Penny TAYLOR sent up 3-pointers to counteract one from MARQUES for Brazil. Then JACKSON copied them with two of her own shots from the arc, and suddenly Brazil was out of it, behind 77-63 with five mintes to play.
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Lauren JACKSON, center (AUS)
On her celebration in the court:
"I was really excited because my parents were here, I was very happy to share with them my happinness. We worked very hard the last two months and now we are in the final, which means that we achieved our goal."
On the final against U.S. team:
"The American team is the best team in the world. WNBA is the best championchip in the world, and all the players of the U.S. tean are playing there. I think if we play defense and stop their fast-break we will have chances for the gold medal."
On her rivalry with Lisa Leslie:
"Lisa is probably the best player in the world. We played lots of times against each other in the WNBA and I know her very well. I hope that both of us will enjoy our match-up and I wish the best team wins."
Trish FALLON, forward (AUS)
On the final against U.S. team:
"We have to be concetrated, not make silly mistakes and not give easy baskets. Our answer in the defensive pressure of the American team will be the key of the game."
Adriana Moises PINTO (BRA) – guard
On the game:
"Australia was very good offensively, especially on the three points shots. We played well but not great and if you want to beat Australia you have to play great".
On the game for the bronze medal against Russia:
"We always believe in our team when we get into the court. We got to keep our heads up and fight in the next game. After all it is a medal and we don't want to lose it".
On the way Brazil is playing:
"We are more focused on defense than we were four years ago. The women's basketball is getting more physical and you've got to make changes anyway. There more big, strong players nowadays and the same goes for our team too".
Alessandra OLIVEIRA, center (BRA)
On the bronze medal game:
"The game against Russia is going to be very difficult. We have not only to use our talent but also our hearts. We both know each other's way of playing in the field of play, since we have been met many times in the past. I think that Russia is goint to ask for a revenge becuase of their loss to the last olympic Games in Sydney."
Helen Christina LUZ, guard (BRA)
On the bronze medal game:
"Russia is the tallest team in the tournament and this makes them a really tough opponent. I think that this game will be totally different comparing to that of the preliminaries and I hope to win this time."
On the gold medal game:
"I think that USA is the ultimate favorite for the first place. The US team is consisted of twelve very good players, and there are no starters or substitutes".
Cintia SANTOS, center (BRA)
On the game against Russia:
"We have to win this game for psychological reasons.We deserve to be on the podium. But, we know, that we have to play hard against a very good team."
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Alessandra OLIVEIRA (BRA), Centre
On the game:
"What can I tell you about the game? Both teams wanted to win, and I am happy that we reached the semifinals . Of course we wanted the Gold medal, but now we have to pick our head up and fight for the Bronze.”
Antonio BARBOSA (BRA), Head Coach
On the game:
"In relation to the game, I can give you a few statistics. Australia had a 42% accuracy at three-point shots and a 59% accuracy at two-point shots. We had a larger volume of shots, had a lot of opportunities, but we could not carry that forward at the end of the game. It is very difficult to beat a team with this shooting average. Lauren (JACKSON) had a 73% shooting success. It is very difficult to play against Australia, they have a great team. They have four players that have been playing together for a long time and it is very difficult to play against a team like that.”
Jan STIRLING (AUS), Head Coach
On the game:
"It was a very tough, physical semifinal. This was not a surprise to us, we knew that Brazil has a very tough team. All credit to them. It is wonderful to be in the Gold medal game, especially since it is the first Olympic campaign for some of us on the team. We tend to forget some rookies on the bench, but they are very important to the team because they rest other players when needed.”
On the final against the United States:
"We have a lot more work to do, but the more times we play a team, the more opportunities we have to beat them. We are working on it and hopefully, this day will be tomorrow. They are very good at powering the ball inside the key, which is where we have some issues. Having said that, we are already developing strategies on that, so we will see.”
On some of her team's key players:
"Of course there is a lot of physical attention attached to Lauren (JACKSON). Fortunately, we spread the scoring load today with five of our players scoring double figures. Again, she is our top rebounder and always attracts three people on her. Trish (FALLON) did a terrific job guarding Janeth (ARCAIN). She deserves to be our captain because she is able to still play her normal game and be a defensive stopper. She is a person that younger players can learn a lot from. She is a wonderful player and person that represents her country with pride.”
Trish FALLON (AUS), Forward/Team Captain
On the game:
"Obviously we are very happy, it was a good team effort. We adjusted very well to Alessandra (OLIVEIRA) in the second half. All credit to the big girls for that. Then Lauren (JACKSON) came up and gave us a bigger gap, giving us the chance to relax and enjoy the game.”
On the final against the United States:
"We are confident, we have played well and have shown our abilities throughout this Tournament. In the final game, we will need a good forty minutes, without any lapses, we need to keep our noses in the game and believe in ourselves. We believe we are up there with them; we might be a young team, but we have a wealth of experience that mixes wonderfully for us and will pull us through tomorrow. Winning the Gold medal was our mission and goal from the very start.”
Game card...
Source: Athens news service
