Cambage enters Top 5 all-time women's Olympic scoring performances after setting Rio 2016 high mark

RIO DE JANEIRO (Rio 2016 Olympic Games) - Lara Sanders' record for most points in a game at the 2016 Women's Olympic Basketball Tournament lasted 48 hours as Liz Cambage came up with a performance for the ages to rescue Australia from what could have become the biggest upset in the tournament so far.

On Tuesday, Sanders was 14-of-18 from the field en route to a game-high 36 points to help Turkey beat Japan 76-62.  

On Thursday, Cambage overpowered Japan with a Rio 2016 record-setting 37 points as the Opals rallied from a 16-point deficit to claim a 92-86 triumph.

“Unbelievable, when she wants to, she can be as good as she wants to be." - Phillips

With Australia on the ropes, Cambage needed to step up. She scored 18 of her 37 points in the final quarter to share the honour of having the third highest single game scoring outing at the Olympics with Elena Baranova of Russia, who scored 37 against Japan at the Atlanta Games, 20 years ago.

Former Bulgaria international Evladiya Slavcheva Slavtcheva holds the record  of 39 points, which she achieved in a 98-87 win against hosts Korea at the 1988 Seoul Games.

Cambage's teammates Erin Phillips and Marianna Tolo were all praises for the 2.03m center.

“Unbelievable, when she wants to, she can be as good as she wants to be," Phillips said. "She is a game-changer. Down the stretch, she showed a lot of composure. She showed a lot of character."

Tolo added: "Liz came back from injury not a long time ago. To come back and how she is, the way she is playing, it’s awesome for us. "

FIBA