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DISAPPOINTMENT. It was the prevailing emotion tonight as Australia fell just 59-61 short of China, instead dropping into the battle for Bronze tomorrow against Canada at the FIBA Women's World Cup in Sydney. Disappointment and despair though are two different emotions and the Opals have half a day to bounce back.

And bounce back they can after a thrilling game in which they had more than enough chances to clinch a win in front of the loudest and most raucous crowd for a women's basketball match in Australia.

(Well, at least since Oz94 when China beat Australia by a point at the Sydney Entertainment Centre in the corresponding World Championship semi final.)

Chinese fans brought the noise and Opals fans matched and even drowned it, creating almost a gladitorial courtside cauldron for the players.

Australia started well but was unable to consistently apply scoreboard pressure despite its hard-working and relentless defensive aptitude.

But even that great work occasionally was compromised by a sudden inability to defend a straight-forward drive. Despite leading 17-13 after one, it should have been a far greater buffer.

Considering the Opals missed 12 points worth of "gimmes" - as in point-blank, open gifts in-and-around the basket, Marianna Tolo even having enough time on one occasion to miss twice and still get the rebound - their 30-36 halftime deficit after a 13-23 second quarter looked telling.

Ezi Magbegor had other ideas in the third period and from 30-38 down, powered the Opals' next six points.

Down 36-38, Sami Whitcomb turned her ankle slightly ahead of three free throws on a long-range Chinese foul. When she missed all three, China again flexed its muscle, centre Xu Han (19 points, 11 rebounds, 5 blocks) its most influential player.

Magbegor made it eight straight points for Australia and a Whitcomb feed to a cutting Steph Talbot kept it in touch 43-46 with a period to play.

Forcing a 24-second shot-clock violation on China, the Opals again showed how fiercely they could defend, switch and rotate at times, Tolo's offensive rebound putback closing them to 46-47.

Two drives by China again contrasted that defensive resolve and at 6:54, Sandy Brondello took timeout, Australia down 46-51.

Cayla George struck a 3-pointer and another 24-second violation again had the crowd roaring. Whitcomb's steal and layup tied it at 51-51, her only basket after a compelling 13-point first half.

Now it was timeout China, George's defensive hustle forcing an ineffective Huang Sijing to travel.

Talbot scoring inside for the 53-51 lead at 4:43 again rocked the roof at Qudos Bank Arena.

Kristy Wallace from the free throw line once more pushed Australia's nose ahead 55-53, as did Talbot's drive for 57-55.

At 1:52, George made two more free throws for 59-57 before Talbot made a superbly athletic defensive rebound save over China's baseline. 

Players fatiguing was huge as the drama wound down, a Chinese steal and layup tying the match at 59-59, just 46.6 seconds left in the semi.

Australia took timeout to set up, then ran a hideously indirect last play which concluded with George hurriedly having to hurl up what turned into an airball.

It was either a terrible play or a terribly run play or a play China was able to easily defend. Whatever, it was a disaster.

Another was to follow when Whitcomb fouled out with 3.4 seconds left on the clock, a moment she would desperately love to have over as it set up losing and was completely unnecessary.

Wang Siyu converted both free throws and the Opals again took timeout. Go for the three and the win? Or the two and overtime?

Bec Allen was subbed back in, perhaps as a long-range decoy but the inbounds play led to Magbegor - who played just 22 minutes after dominating the third quarter comeback - driving to the hoop for a hotly contested miss at the siren.

Australia indeed had its chances but there were some dumbfounding moves made - and not made - which also contributed.

Lauren Jackson's selection on this team at 41 made justifiably huge news. But playing her for a paltry 2:41 in a semi final showed Brondello never really understood how to best utilise her size, experience and big-game smarts.

Only against Japan when she played some 12 minutes for 12 points did Brondello get it right with LJ. She could have been huge against China, especially when their bigs were causing headaches and again late, when Opals were tiring and unable to finish.

Even subbing her in for that last 3.4 seconds along with Allen would have made China believe the Opals definitely were going for the three and perhaps created more room for Magbegor's drive to tie.

Brondello simply lacked any sense of occasion, and earlier playing Darcee Garbin for a pointless 1:48 was indefensible. Play Jackson there, or Sara Blicavs or whoever else is part of the plan. Those weren't quality minutes or even sensible ones.

And Australia's inability to score at the start of quarters or out of timeouts speaks volumes, its standard motion offence just too easy to defend.

Heart, effort, commitment, intensity - these traits cannot be faulted in this rejuvenated Opals program. But winning Bronze will still take a massive effort.

Canada conceded it would lose its semi final to USA before the warmups, knowing it ultimately would be playing for Bronze tomorrow.

Australia believed it might be playing for Gold. One team ready, one team disappointed. But disappointment is NOT despair. A medal beckons, albeit one which will not be easy to secure. 

SEMI FINALS

USA 83 d Canada 43; China 61 (Xu 19, Liwei 18, Siyu 14; Xu 11 rebs; Liwei 4 assts) d Australian Opals 59 (Whitcomb 15, Magbegor, Talbot 12, George 10; Talbot 10 rebs; Talbot, Whitcomb 3 assts).

Bronze Medal: 1pm, Australia V Canada

Gold Medal: 4pm, USA V China