Australia see off Serbia to reach Olympic women's basketball semifinals

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 semifinals on Wednesday.

The Australians, silver medallists in 2000, 2004 and 2008, are into the semifinals 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.

🏀 A comprehensive 85-67 quarter-finals victory to the Opals has propelled them to the semi-finals and a chance at an Olympic medal.

👉 https://t.co/eRrRsVpxEx#AllezAUS | @basketballaus

— AUS Olympic Team (@AUSOlympicTeam) August 7, 2024

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.

Nigeria have already made history in Paris by becoming the first African team, men or women, to reach the knock-out rounds of Olympic competition.

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 quarterfinals, the Opals turned the tables in convincing fashion, building on the momentum of two straight group wins after a stuttering start to the competition.

'THROWING THE FIRST PUNCH'

Australia connected on 58 per cent 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.

European champions Belgium reached the semifinals for the first time with a 79-66 victory over previously unbeaten Spain.

Belgium will face Tokyo bronze medallists France, who returned to the semifinals with a comprehensive 84-71 victory over Olympic newcomers Germany.

Marine Johannes scored 24 points in a ruthlessly efficient offensive display. Gabby Williams added 15 points and Alexia Chery scored 10 for France, who took control with a 17-5 scoring run to open the second quarter and led by as many as 19 in the fourth.

Nyara Sabally, sidelined since suffering a head injury in Germany's opener, returned to score 20 points. Alexis Peterson added 15 and Satou Sobally scored 10.

But in the face of France's feisty defense a German team that led in three-point shooting in the group connected on just four of 14 attempts from beyond the arc.

Fans at Bercy Arena were already celebrating as the final seconds ticked down when a man tried to dash onto the court. He was quickly tackled by security and hustled away.

Emma Meesseman and Kyara Linskens paced Belgium with 19 points apiece in a lively rematch of last year's EuroBasket final.

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 connected on 63 per cent of their shots from the field in the first half, taking control in the second quarter to advance after two defeats to open group play had made their chances of even making the knock-out rounds look dim.