The injury-ravaged Opals survived an almighty Italian scare on Thursday morning to advance to the FIBA World Cup quarterfinals.
With news hours earlier that Alanna Smith was sidelined for the tournament, things went from bad to worse early when captain Ezi Magbegor hurt her knee in the first quarter and Jade Melbourne (flu) managed just the opening three minutes of the game, Australia played its best basketball of the tournament before giving up a 26-point lead to hang on to an 82-80 victory over Italy.
After three average quarters, Italy, who trailed by 20 points at three quarter time, stormed home and levelled the scores, 77-77, through a Costanza Verona triple with 1:09 on the clock.
Zitina Aokuso put the Opals back in front with 24 seconds to go before a successful Australian review for out of bounds at the other end saw the Opals regain possession. Ally Wilson would be fouled and converted both free throws for an 81-77 scoreline but there was another twist to come when Italy's Vittoria Blasigh sunk a pull up jumper with 5 seconds to play stunning the crowd and viewers alike.
Playing the game of her career, Isobel Borlase went to the line, missed her first shot then made the second before Francesca Pasa, subbed in with 4 seconds remaining, drove to the basket and missed the game-equalling lay-up on the buzzer. It was agony for Italy and ecstasy for Australia.
Australia will now face Spain in the early hours of Friday morning with the winner to meet the USA in a semifinal.
BRILLIANT BORLASE
If you equal a record set by Lauren Jackson, then you must be pretty good, and Isobel Borlase is more than pretty good. She's great.
Her 30-point MVP display was not only the highest by any player this tournament but equalled Jackson's bronze-medal performance from the 2022 World Cup for most points by an Australian player off the bench.
After starting in the three pool games, the 21-year-old was demoted and with her team needing to step up following Magbegor's exit from the game, it was Borlase who rose to the occasion.
Her 12-point first-quarter haul was just one short of Italy's entire score. By half time, Borlase was up to 23 and the driving force behind Australia's 48-33 advantage.
With Melbourne sidelined, the WNBA rookie got the ball up the floor, dished out five assists and despite scoring seven points in the second half stayed in the game, grabbed boards and when she converted the second of two free throws scored Australia's final basket.
Mature and made for the moment, this was Borlase's breakout.
DIG IN
With their backs to the wall, the Opals leaned on the cornerstones of its rich program: relentless persistence, overcoming adversity and a commitment on defence to keep their campaign alive.
Their first-half display was clinical at both ends. Australia's 48 first half points the highest ever put on the Italians in World Cup competition.
As good as the Opals were across the first three quarters, contrastingly Italy was poor, more interested in complaining than locking down defensively and simply didn't look like the team that fell three points short of the USA on Monday.
But before our eyes, a comfortable 20-point buffer at the final break evaporated and Italy was back in the game through Verona (23 points), Blasigh (13 points), centre Andre Olbis (11 points) and Lorela Cubaj (8 rebounds, 6 points and 5 assists).
Steph Talbot did a stellar job on Golden State Valkyries WNBA player Cecilia Zandalasini, who was averaging 13 points across the pool games, to 9 points and 5 rebounds while having a 14-point-9-rebound-5-assist stat line herself.
With no Magbegor or Smith, Aokuso had to play bulk minutes and registered a career-high 15 points alongside 6 rebounds.
With Melbourne unwell and distanced from teammates on the bench, Steph Reid was injected into the game early clocking her most minutes of the tournament. The pint-sized point guard will be better for some game time and momentum come an intriguing showdown with Spain.
Watch every game of the FIBA Women's World Cup LIVE on ESPN on Disney+, with all Opals, USA and knockout games also available on ESPN via Foxtel, Kayo, Fetch and Sky Sport NZ!
