OLYW - Australia hold off Canada, France remain unbeaten

LONDON (Olympics) - Australia narrowly saw off the challenge of Canada on Sunday to clinch second place in Group B of the Olympic Basketball Tournament for Women.

In the other Group B games, France prevailed over Russia 65-54 and Brazil saw off Great Britain 78-66 for their first win of the tournament.

Australia led Canada by 19 points in the first half but didn’t put them away.

Instead, Allison McNeill’s team battled back to trail 55-53 midway through the fourth quarter.

Belinda Snell connected from beyond the arc to calm Australian nerves but Canada kept the pressure on, pulling to within 62-59 on a Courtnay Pilypaitis three-pointer with 1:08 to go.

Australia made 10 straight free-throws - eight from Lauren Jackson – to ice a 72-63 win.

The Opals were not fully satisfied with the win, though, after nearly blowing a big lead.

“We need to get better in our next game,” Jackson said.

“(But) I don’t feel negative at all. I feel quite positive and our team has the capability of doing whatever it needs, it’s just a matter of doing it in the right time.

“I’ve seen some wonderful things come from this team over the last three months and I know what we’re capable of so I’m not too concerned at this point.

“I know we’re going to have to get better against China and show different signs of, probably a bit more dynamic offensively and defensively. I think that’s something that we need to focus on a little bit more.”

France, still sky high after their overtime win against hosts Great Britain on Friday, had already locked up first place before they ran onto the court to face Russia.

Celine Dumerc, who drilled a game-winning three-ball at the overtime buzzer against the Brits, led her team with 12 points against Russia.

The French outscored the Russians, 30-13 in the third quarter to lead 55-34 and never turned back.

Now Pierre Vincent has to get ready for the Czechs.

“They have been slow to enter the competition but it is a very experienced team with very good players,” he said of France's Quarter-Final opponents.

In a battle of teams looking for their first win, Brazil pulled away in the second half to dispatch Great Britain to finish on a positive note.

Erika de Souza and Clarissa Dos Santos had 16 points each and captain Adriana Pinto added 15 and handed out 12 assists in her last game for the national team.

There was little to separate the two teams in the first half as the score was tied at 19 after the first quarter. Brazil then edged in front 39-36 at the intermission.

Joice Rodrigues and Franciele Nacimento took care of the scoring in the third period for Luis Tarallo's team as they gradually pulled away.

Spurred on by the fans, GB tried to make a run in the fourth quarter, but Brazil were able to push the gap back up to 15 and put the result beyond doubt.

FIBA