The Australian women’s basketball team kicked off its medal charge in the Paris 2024 Olympics with a shock 75-62 loss to Nigeria at the Pierre Mauroy Stadium in Lille, France, on Monday.
Alanna Smith top-scored for the Opals, ranked third in the world, with 15 points while Sami Whitcomb and Jade Melbourne contributed 13 and 12 points, respectively.
Ezinne Kalu, with 19 points and five rebounds, was the architect of what was a memorable win for world No. 12 Nigeria.
Australia, coached by Sandy Brondellom, showed some real urgency at the start and were all over Nigeria in the opening few minutes. Jade Melbourne and Ezi Magbegor led the early onslaught as the Opals raced to a 13-5 lead.
However, Nigeria, playing their second successive Summer Games, responded with a magnificent Ezinne Kalu leading their lines. In fact, it was Nigeria who had their noses ahead after the first quarter at 18-17 largely thanks to Kalu’s 11 points, which included three three-pointers.
Kalu continued to run the play in the second quarter. With Amy Okonkwo and Elizabeth Balogun adding to the Opals’ woes, the D’Tigresses went into half-time with a surprise 41-28 lead.
An astonishing 16 turnovers by the Aussie players had a telling say on the scoreboard. Nigeria, in comparison, had only eight in the first half.
The Opals, five-time Olympic medallists, needed a strong response in the second half. Despite some resolute defending from the Nigerian players, the Opals chipped away at the lead slowly with Alanna Smith leading the fightback.
Heading into the final quarter, the Aussies trailed by just four and had pulled themselves back into the basketball contest.
The final quarter proved to be a nervy affair. With just over six minutes left on the clock, the Opals trailed by just two before a disastrous spell of play transpired for the Opals.
Smith, who had been excellent for the Opals in the match, missed two free throws before Promise Amukamara converted both of hers for Nigeria. Promise then set up Okonkwo for a three-pointer which saw the reigning four-time African champions go seven points clear.
The lead allowed Nigeria to dictate the play and wrap up the match comfortably.
The Opals will face world No. 5 Canada in their next Group B match on Thursday before a showdown against hosts France, the Tokyo 2020 bronze medal winners, next Monday.
Australia need to finish in the top two in their group to make the Paris 2024 Olympics basketball quarter-finals.