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Czech Republic was the final team to qualify for the quarterfinals on Sunday while other teams determined their final positions after group stage.
Quarterfinal pairings will be as follows:
14:00 USA – Canada
16:15 Australia – China
20:00 Turkey – Russia
22:15 France – Czech Republic
*local time
Semifinals would see the winners of the first two pairs listed above and the winners of last two pairs play each other. That means that two European teams will be in the top four and one will surely advance to the final.
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After a lethargic first half, France came out strong in the second half, opening a double digit lead against the sleeping Russians. In the fourth quarter their lead reached 25 points, before the Russians made a bunch of shots at the end of regulation to make the score look a bit more respectable.
Celine Dumerc dominated both Russian point guards as did the French posts who controlled the paint against Russians. For the European champions there wasn’t much incentive to win the game apart from getting to play the struggling Czechs. They still avoided the part of the bracket where USA is, thanks to Australian win against Canada.
France – Russia 65-54
France: Dumerc 12, Gruda 9, Miyem 8
Russia: Belyakova 14, Hammon 8, Vieru 8, Grishaeva 8
All twelve Czech players scored as Czech Republic cruised to the quarterfinals with a win against Angola. Eva Viteckova was excellent for Czechs, making all eight field goals she attempted. As could have been predicted by almost anyone, Angola finished the tournament with five losses with an average losses by 30.4 points – highest since 2000 when Senegal were trashed by an average of 36.8 points.
Angola – Czech Republic 47-82
Angola: Mauricio 18, Manuel 10 (12 reb), Tomas 9
Czech Republic: Zrustova 20, Viteckova 19, Bartakova 8
Despite all four quarterfinalists from group B already determined, the game between Canada and Australia had plenty of meaning in regards of positioning. In a way we all can be thankful for an Australia win – before the game there were at least 4 different tiebreak situation interpretations, which would undoubtedly generated plenty of confusion.
Having led by 17 points in the first quarter Australians found themselves barely hanging on with a two point lead during the fourth quarter. But a timely Belinda Snell three pointer and Jackson going 100% from the line gave Australia the win, allowing them to avoid USA in the quarterfinals.
Canada – Australia 63-72
Canada: Smith 17, Gabriele 9, Thorburn 9
Australia: Cambage 19, Jackson 18, Snell 12, O’Hea 9
China stayed with USA for one quarter before being blown out as USA went on to score 114 points on 62% shooting from the floor.
If this game is any indication the Americans are nearing the form coach Auriemma wished for before the Olympics with USA not only dominating, but doing it by playing audience pleasing, beautiful basketball.
China – USA 66-114
China: N.Chen 16, Song 15, Ma 13, Gao 9
USA: Taurasi 22, McCoughtry 16, Moore 12, Charles 12, Parker 10, Whalen 10
Having nothing to play for, except pride, Croatia erased a 16 point deficit against Turkey but were unable to limit the Turks in the final minutes, allowing them to score just enough to win the game and secure themselves the second place in group B.
All in all Croatia played at the level it was expected from them. It would have probably been more interesting had Montenegro qualified from Europe instead of Croatia.
Croatia – Turkey 65-70
Croatia: Lelas 14, Jelavic 10, Ivezic
Turkey: Hollingsworth 14, Caglar 11, Tuncluer 11, Yilmaz 10
Going for their first (and very likely only one for some time) win Great Britain could not limit Brazil enough on defense to allow their offense to start rolling. As a result the Brits allowed the most points in regulation of all five games they’ve played against the weakest of the five teams.
For Brazil this was the final tournament for Adriana Pinto while Clarissa Dos Santos had a breakout tournament.
Kim Butler had also announced that this was her final game in pro basketball career.
Great Britain – Brazil 66-78
Great Britain: Stafford 15, Leedham 12, Page 11
Brazil: Dos Santos 16, De Souza 16, Pinto 15
