An injury to Penny Taylor has soured the Opals 79-46 victory over the Czech Republic in the quarter finals of the women's basketball competition in Beijing.
Taylor rolled her ankle at the start of the third term and was forced from the court for the remainder of the game. She sat on the bench with ice around her ankle as Australia cruised to victory and faces intensive treatment in a bid to play in the semi-final against China on Thursday.
The Chinese team accounted for Belarus 77-62 in the first quarter final and will prove stiff opposition for the Opals, especially if Taylor is ruled out of the clash.
“Penny sprained her ankle. We will have to apply ice every two hours during the next 24 hours, lots of compression and rest,” explained Australian team doctor Scott Burne.
“We are confident (but) if she misses the semi-final she will be in the final.”
“In Brazil two years ago we brought Kristi (Harrower) back from a similar injury in only one day,” Burne added.
Taylor's injury was the only downside to the comprehensive victory, with Lauren Jackson stepping up in her team-mate’s absence to collect 17 points and 12 rebounds.
Belinda Snell was again an important link and hit 3-of-4 three-point shots in her 15 while also pulling down nine rebounds, Rohanee Cox netted 10 points, and Harrower kept her team moving, as usual, while adding nine (on 4-of-11 shooting).
Australia was never tested, going 13 points clear at quarter time (23-10) and 21 up at half-time (38-17), as the Czechs were overwhelmed at both ends, finding it particularly hard to score.
Highlighted by a 14-point run from midway through the third term, the lead steadily built to 34 at three-quarter time, 61-27.
Coach Jan Stirling took the opportunity to rotate her players and only Erin Phillips played less than 10 minutes, while every player got on the scoresheet.
Although they missed a few shots under little or no pressure, resulting in a field-goal percentage of just 38 (27-of-71), the Opals dominated the rebound count 58-37 and had 12 steals.
The overmatched Czechs connected on only 16 field goals for the entire game at 25 per cent and had no players in double figures for scoring.
“We played excellent team defence,” Snell said. “We played a physical game, which was quite difficult for them.”
Snell conceded that China’s one-time Australian head coach Tom Maher and his assistant, former Opals stalwart Michelle Timms, would have some inside knowledge heading into the semi-final clash.
“I know they are planning to win the semi-final. They got an Australian coach and an Australian assistant coach, who are quite familiar with us. We will take it seriously and come out strong,” Snell said.