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AUSTRALIA's Opals fans rising early and praying for a miracle today were left disappointed as Spain comfortably eliminated our sorely depleted national team from the FIBA Women's World Cup in Berlin, its 23-point success only serving to reinforce Steph Reid should have been better utilised.

With injured starters Alanna Smith and Ezi Magbegor sidelined and the situation compounded by Jade Melbourne's absence through flu, Opals coach Sandy Brondello was left with a nine-player rotation and forced to rely on players who otherwise may have remained anchored to the bench.

Point guard Reid was the greatest beneficiary. Promoted from virtually token minutes to a starter's role, the team's only genuine PG opened the game swishing consecutive 3-pointers, jump-starting Australia to a 6-3 lead.

Brondello chose to again bring WNBL MVP Isobel Borlase off the bench after she scored the entire World Cup's highest individual score with her 30-point return against Italy.

She additionally opened Alex Fowler alongside a clearly fatigued Zitina Aokuso, erratic Alex Wilson and the team's most reliable contributor and an All Star Five long shot - only because teams outside the Final Four rarely have a player in the Stars quintet - Steph Talbot.

The 2022 World Cup All Star Fiver again delivered against Spain, scoring 11 points, matching it with 11 rebounds, plus 7 assists and 2 steals.

Talbot, undoubtedly to be among the first Opals players selected for the 2028 Los Angeles Olympics, finished this tournament leading Australia in scoring (13.8), rebounding (8.6), assists (4.4) and steals (1.4).

Even when running-on-empty, wearing the green-and-gold drives Talbot to be a marquee international superstar.

Wilson's turnover opened the door for Spain to take a 7-6 lead and despite Reid soon nailing her third triple and Borlase tying the game from the stripe at 15-15, the Opals never led again.

In fact Spain, which was hitting almost everything (8-of-10 threes at one stage early), let loose with a 16-0 avalanche which buried any hopes of an Aussie upset.

A late Talbot basket meant Australia trailed 17-31 at the first break and she again ignited an 8-2 rally when the game resumed, forcing a Spanish time-out with the Opals at 25-33.

It paid off, the Opals unable to draw anything from a clearly gassed Aokuso (2 points on 1-of-1 shooting, three rebounds and four turnovers in 13:50 minutes of jogging in deep mud), Isabelle Bourne 0-of-4 from the floor and Fowler 0-of-3.

Borlase connected from outside the arc and Wilson buried one just on the halftime siren, Australia already a long way back at 37-58.

Wilson started the second half with a turnover on the inbounds pass, and more ball hiccups from Fowler, Borlase and Wilson meant the Opals already reached their match-average of 17 turnovers with 7:50 to play in the third quarter.

Chloe Bibby was another to benefit from extra minutes, leading the scoring with 13 points at 63 per cent, Spain in control and only another Wilson three to beat the buzzer keeping Australia on life support at 51-70, a period to play.

Big baskets by Wilson and Bibby in the final quarter drew the Opals to 63-76 with 5:16 left, but from there the Aussies wasted several good open looks to rip further into that deficit.

Forcing a 24-second shot-clock violation, Australia needed to reward itself but it was running out of chances while Spain was driving into the semi finals. 

FIBA Women's World Cup Results

Semi Final Draw

USA v Spain   France v Germany

Quarter Finals 

USA 108 d Hungary 56     France 90 d China 61    Germany 93 d Belgium 74

Spain 89 (Gustafson 16, Martin 14, Conde, Florez 10; Fam 8 rebs; Cazorla 5 assts) d Australia Opals 66 (Bibby, Wilson 13, Talbot, Reid 11; Talbot 11 rebs; Talbot 7 assts)  

Quarter Final Qualifiers

Hungary 84, Japan 63; Germany 94, Korea 56; China 75, Puerto Rico 72; Australia Opals 82, Italy 80. 

Intragroup Stage:

GROUP A: Japan 102, Mali 97; Spain 83, Germany 53; Mali 82, Spain 73; Germany 74, Japan 58; Spain 79, Japan 59; Germany 83, Mali 58; Positions: 1 Spain 2-1, 2 Germany 2-1, 3 Japan 1-2, 4 Mali 1-2

GROUP B: Korea 99, Nigeria 81; France 99, Hungary 53; France 95, Korea 69; Hungary 71, Nigeria 67; Hungary 82, Korea 73; France 111, Nigeria 56. Positions: 1 France 3-0, 2 Hungary 2-1, Korea 1-2, 4 Nigeria 0-3

GROUP C: Belgium 80, Australia  68; Belgium 76, Puerto Rico 64; Australia 87, Turkey 71; Belgium 89, Turkey 75; Australia 70, Puerto Rico 54; Puerto Rico 75, Turkey 71. Positions: 1 Belgium 3-0, 2 Australia 2-1, 3 Puerto Rico 1-2, 4 Turkey 0-3

GROUP D: USA 94, China 61; Italy 63, Czechia 54; China 74, Czechia 70; USA 55, Italy 52; USA 105, Czechia 64; China 71, Italy 51. Positions: 1 USA 3-0, 2 China 2-1, 3 Italy 1-2, Czechia 0-3 

All pics courtesy of fiba.com

Opals Review - Coming in the World Cup wrap, after the Final