CLASSIFICATION ROUND Review – Aussies, France bounce back

KARLOVY VARY (2010 FIBA World Championship for Women) - Australia and France will battle for fifth place after winning their respective Classification Round games on Saturday.

The Australians, gold-medal winners four years ago after beating Russia in the title game, put their disappointing Quarter-Final loss to the Czech Republic behind them and beat the Russians, 78-73.

Penny Taylor and Lauren Jackson turned on the style against Russia.

Taylor had 19 points and eight rebounds and Jackson poured in 17 while grabbing nine boards. The emerging star of the Opals, 19-year-old Liz Cambage, also scored 19 and pulled down eight rebounds.

"It's a surprise to play this kind of game with Russia," said Taylor, who bounced back from a sub-par effort against the Czechs.

"Today it was very important to come out and represent our country the best that we could."

France, beaten by Spain in overtime in Friday's last Quarter-Final, pulled away from Korea 61-46.

Marion Laborde scored all 15 of her points from the arc, missing just twice.

Russia and Korea will play in the seventh/eighth place game on Sunday.

Earlier on Saturday, Brazil defeated Japan 84-79 to wrap up ninth place and Greece overcame Canada 71-55 to come in 11th.

FIBA