The Opals despatched Lauren Jackson into retirement with an Olympic bronze medal as the ultimate accolade of her unprecedented profession after overcoming Belgium in an exciting playoff for third on the Paris Video games.
Australia’s best basketballer didn’t get any court docket time in her final match within the inexperienced and gold however was cheering her youthful teammates with gusto because the Opals held off a pesky Belgian facet for an 85-81 victory.
Jackson’s mantle because the Opals’ cornerstone has effectively and actually been handed to a different bodily gifted centre who has additionally made her title within the WNBA on the Seattle Storm.
Ezi Magbegor stood tall for Australia within the bronze medal match with the 24-year-old centre proving too sturdy for Belgium at each ends of the ground.
Magbegor led all scorers with 30 factors on 12/17 taking pictures whereas additionally registering 13 rebounds, three assists, two steals and three blocks in an outstanding all-round efficiency.
The Opals had not claimed an Olympic medal because the London Video games in 2012.
They led 20-19 on the finish of a scrappy first quarter when Isobel Borlase sunk a three-pointer as time expired.
Australia have been counting on Magbegor to dominate within the paint however couldn’t shake Belgium within the second quarter both and wanted one other buzzer-beating three, this time from Sami Whitcomb to take a 37-36 buffer into the principle break.
Sandy Brondello’s squad began the third quarter on music, establishing a 10-point lead halfway by the time period earlier than Julie Vanloo sparked one other Belgian fightback and the Europeans not solely reeled within the deficit however took a 71-70 benefit into the ultimate time period.
Whitcomb and Tess Madgen discovered their vary from the three-point arc because the Aussies established a seven-point lead halfway by the ultimate quarter.
Belgium introduced the deficit again to 4 with simply over a minute remaining however the Aussies held their nerve down the stretch to bounce again after their 85-64 semi-final loss to Workforce USA.
With the Aussies clinging to a three-point lead with 25 seconds remaining, Antonia Delaere launched a 3 to tie the scores however Steph Talbot produced a well-timed block to disclaim the Belgian sharpshooter.
Belgium regained possession after the ball went out of bounds however inexplicably didn’t get a shot off with 16 seconds on the sport clock.