Opals secure winning hat-trick at Qualifiers
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A CRUDE unsportsmanlike foul by Hungary's Petra Toman against Opals forward Alanna Smith acted as the catalyst to send Australia rolling away to a comfortable 71-58 victory in Turkey at the FIBA World Cup Qualifying tournament, the USF spurring a match-winning run that broke open the contest.
The Hungarians had hung tough through the first half, even leading after a seriously ugly first quarter, 14-13.
By halftime, Australia had edged to a 40-33 lead but Hungary was still in it when trailing 38-44 as Toman clubbed Smith 4:15 out from the last break.
Smith converted both free throws and also scored on the extra possession.
Free throws by Zitina Aokuso a minute later, followed by a reverse lay-up by Chloe Bibby at 2:40 meant the Opals had uncorked a mini 8-0 tear that swept them 52-38 clear.
It was an uphill climb from there as the Opals, drawing the usual quality performances from Smith (11 points, 6 rebounds in 18 minutes), Sami Whitcomb (12 points in 17) and Ezi Magbegor (14 points, 2-of-2 threes) simply took care of business.

*FIBA World Cup Qualifying Series
Australia Opals 71 (Magbegor 14, Whitcomb 12, Smith 11; Aokuso 9 rebs; 4 with 2 assts) d Hungary 58 (Kiss 10, Dubei 9, Dombai 7; Juhasz, Kiss 7 rebs; Aho 3 assts) in Turkey.
Australia Opals 81 (Whitcomb 17, Magbegor 14, Smith 12, Aokuso 10; Smith 9 rebs; Wilson 7 assts) d Japan 71 (Tanaka 17, Yamamoto, Hirashita 16; Machida 6 rebs; Machida 10 assts) in Turkey.
Australia Opals 91 (Borlase 19, Magbegor 16, Melbourne 12; Smith, Magbegor 7 rebs; Smith 5 assts) d Argentina 65 (Chagas, Mungo 17; Gretter 7 rebs; Gretter 6 assts) in Turkey.
*Australia has already qualified for the World Cup in Berlin.

