America edged nearer to an exceptional 8th immediately ladies’s basketball Olympic crown on Wednesday, finishing the historical run of Nigeria with an 88-74 quarter-final victory.
Two-time WNBA Maximum Reliable Participant A’Ja Wilson scored 20 issues and grabbed 11 rebounds to age a US facet that might crack a secured with the United States males’s basketball staff for probably the most consecutive Olympic golds — all set from 1936-68.
Jackie Younger added 15 issues and Breanna Stewart — any other two-time WNBA MVP chipped in 13.
America will face Australia within the semi-finals on Friday then the Opals noticed off Serbia 85-67.
France beat Olympic inexperienced persons Germany 84-71 to arrange a semi-final towards Ecu champions Belgium, 79-66 winners over in the past unbeaten Spain.
France, led by way of 24 issues from Marine Johannes, thrilled fanatics, however america had been the bulky draw at Bercy Area.
NBA celebrity LeBron James and USA teammate Bam Adebayo had been courtside for the accident between the United States dynasty and the primary staff from Africa, male or feminine, to assemble the Olympic basketball quarter-finals.
James and Adebayo, taking part in an evening off sooner than tackling Serbia within the males’s semi-finals on Thursday, sat after to US swimming greats Michael Phelps and Katie Ledecky.
Nigeria, who’ve made bodily play games an indicator, regarded the rest however intimidated by way of the powerhouse American citizens as they traded buckets within the opening mins.
Diana Taurasi looking to change into the primary Olympic basketball participant to win six gold medals, got here off the bench and drilled a three-pointer to position the United States up 24-12 past due within the first quarter.
A thieve and a layup by way of Oath Amukamara trim the insufficiency to unmarried digits however each age Nigeria gave the impression to be making headway the American citizens replied with a run.
They closed the primary part on a 14-4 surge. Breanna Stewart tired a three-pointer upcoming were given let go for a layup within the last negligible to push the United States top to 52-33 on the crack.
America introduced the 3rd quarter with a 10-0 run and driven the top to 76-46 sooner than Amukamara got here up with a thieve and raced the area of the courtroom for a layup to finish the quarter.
In any case, america simply had remaining firepower, however the trail-blazing Nigerians, who had been led by way of 19 issues from Amukamara with 16 from Ezinne Kalu, departed to a heat ovation from fanatics.
Nearest up for america is Australia, who had 22 issues and 13 rebounds from Alanna Smith in a powerful victory over Serbia.
The Australians, silver medallists in 2000, 2004 and 2008, are into the semi-finals for the primary age since 2012 after they earned bronze.
– ‘Throwing the first punch’ –
Australia attached on 58 in keeping with cent in their photographs within the first part, out-scoring Serbia 22-11 in the second one quarter to pluck keep an eye on for excellent.
“In tournaments like this, how you start is how you finish, and we wanted to come out throwing the first punch,” Smith mentioned.
Belgium, who reached the semi-finals for the primary age, face a difficult accident towards Tokyo bronze medallists France.
The hosts returned to the semi-finals in noteceable taste, Johannes striking on an offensive display with enough of aid from Gabby Williams and Alexia Cherry.
France took keep an eye on with a 17-5 scoring run to unhidden the second one quarter and led by way of as many as 19 within the fourth.
Nyara Sabally, sidelined since struggling a head shock in Germany’s opener, returned to attain 20 issues.
However within the face of France’s feisty protection a German staff that led in three-point capturing within the workforce attached on simply 4 of 14 makes an attempt from past the arc.
Lovers at Bercy Area had been already celebrating as the overall seconds ticked i’m sick when a person attempted to sprint onto the courtroom. He used to be temporarily tackled by way of safety and hustled away.
AFP