Australia see off Serbia to reach Olympic women’s basketball semi-finals

PARIS: Alanna Smith scored 22 points and pulled down 13 rebounds to lead Australia to a convincing 85-67 victory over Serbia and into the Olympic women’s basketball semi-finals on Wednesday.

The Aussies, silver medallists in 2000, 2004 and 2008, are into the semi-finals for the first time since 2012, when they earned bronze. They will face either the United States or Nigeria on Friday for a place in the final.

The United States are chasing an unprecedented eighth straight Olympic title -- which would break a tie with the US men’s basketball team for the most consecutive gold medals set from 1936-68.

Meanwhile Nigeria have already made history in Paris by becoming the first African country to reach the knock-out rounds. USA coach Cheryl Reeve said depth of talent is the foundation of the US dynasty. That depth allowed Reeve to make wholesale substitutions to turn things around after a slow start offensively in their group win against Germany.

“The athleticism and the skill level they can bring in off the bench, I mean you’re bringing Brittney Griner off the bench,” German coach Lisa Thomaidis said. “I mean that’s just, that’s just another level.”

A day after Serbia rallied to beat Australia’s Boomers in the men’s quarter-finals, the Opals turned the tables in convincing fashion, building on the momentum of two straight group wins after a stuttering start to the competition.

Australia connected on 58 percent of their shots in the first half, out-scoring Serbia 22-11 in the second quarter to take control for good. “In tournaments like this, how you start is how you finish, and we wanted to come out throwing the first punch,” Smith said.

“We know how Serbia like to play, they’re very physical, they like to get teams on their heels, so we knew we had to get on top of it first.” Smith added four assists, two steals and two blocks and Jade Melbourne and Cayla George scored 18 points apiece for Australia.

“It’s just so exciting playing with a player like Jade, because she’s got a really high ceiling, and she’s so young, and she’s already doing amazing things,” Smith said of her 21-year-old teammate. European champions Belgium reached the semi-finals for the first time with a 79-66 victory over previously unbeaten Spain.

Emma Meesseman and Kyara Linskens scored 19 points apiece and Antonia Delaere and Julie Vanloo scored 13 each for Belgium who next face either France or Belgium. The lively game was tied through one quarter. Spain’s Megan Gustafson scored 17 of her 21 points in the first half, but the Spaniards struggled to get their offense clicking otherwise.

Meanwhile Belgium were on fire early, connecting on 63 percent of their shots from the field in the first half and drilling five three-pointers on seven attempts. The rematch of last year’s EuroBasket final had looked unlikely after Belgium dropped their first two group matches. But they pulled out a big win over Japan to reach the knock-out round.