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BREAK-OUT games by Isobel Borlase and Zitina Aokuso today spurred Australia to overcome the twin losses of captain Ezi Magbegor (knee) and Jade Melbourne (flu), holding on grimly to outlast Italy 82-80 at the FIBA Women's World Cup, the Opals now advancing to the quarter-finals.

Australia overnight now will face Spain in their KO quarter final in Berlin, the winner likely to meet the USA in a semi final, provided the occasonally erratic Americans beat Hungary as expected. 

For Opals fans of the "glass half empty" variety, it would be easy to focus on Italy's 31-13 final period fightback which saw it erase a 26-point third quarter deficit and drag the match back to an almost preposterous tie at 77-77.

But that attitude then would overlook how the Opals laid the foundation for one of Australia's gutsiest international wins of all time.

Without even factoring in the loss pre-tournament of captain Sami Whitcomb or the devastating news Alanna Smith, injured in the World Cup opener's first half against Puerto Rico, is now ruled out for the duration, the adversity piled on the Opals was enough to make a veteran team, falter.

And Sandy Brondello's current crop is no veteran team.

Losing playmaker Jade Melbourne after just 3:18 of action to a flu she was trying to battle through was one thing. But at 4:09 it was Ezi Magbegor limping out of the contest, also not to return.

Magbegor had the first basket of this must-win contest but Steph Talbot (I4 points at 56 per cent, 9 rebounds, 5 assists, 1 steal) already was showing offensive aggression before the skipper was assisted from the court.

The Opals were 12-7 out on an Alex Fowler free throw before Borlase snared a defensive rebound, took the ball coast-to-coast for a 14-7 buffer.

The Italians must have felt they were suffering deja vu when Borlase did the same thing again before being fouled on the shot and instead converting both free throws.

On her way to matching the most points scored by an Opal coming off the bench - Brondello started Alex Wilson in her place - Borlase had a 12-point first quarter.

With an 11 point second period, she had 23 by halftime for the most points scored in a half by an Aussie at a World Cup. 

Not only had Borlase been a revelation but Australia led 48-33 at the main break, the most points Italy ever conceded in a first half over its entire World Cup history!

Borlase continued on to compile 30 points, the equal-eighth best tally by an Opal in Australia's World Cup history, putting her alongside some of the greats such as Jean Forster, Lauren Jackson and Liz Cambage.

Also dishing five assists, grabbing four boards and a steal, Borlase showed exactly why she won the WNBL's MVP award in 2025-26 ... but she was not alone by any means.

Aokuso, a somewhat hit-or-miss scorer so far, absolutely rose to the occasion, her 15 points off a perfect 6-of-6 from the floor, 3-of-5 free throws and six rebounds. Her two assists were jump-from-your-seat wicked as well.

Australia's Asia Cup MVP, Alex Fowler, played accordingly for a tidy eight points, and both Chloe Bibby and Steph Reid made the most of their minutes.

Leading by example, Talbot not only delivered a solid offensive game but also was integral in shutting down Italian star Cecilia Zandalasini whose nine points came on a rushed 2-of-7 shooting.

Talbot, Aokuso, Fowler and Borlase were instrumental in a third quarter avalanche that blew out to a 64-38 lead when Reid fed Borlase for a 3-point make.

Italy's Costanza Verona (23 points,3 assists) and Vittoria Blasigh (13 points, 3-of-3 threes) led Italy's fourth quarter fightback, both closing their World Cups with their finest international performances.

Centre Olbis Andre (11 points, 5-of-6 shooting) also rallied as Italy mounted a sudden onslaught the Opals may not have been anticipating.

Consecutive plays by Andre dragged Italy to 65-73 inside the last five minutes and it was still an eight-point Opals lead with 4:18 left, courtesy of Lorela Cubaj.

At 4:06, Bibby drove to restore the double-digit lead at 77-67, but instead of breaking the Italians, it only further emboldened them. Over the next three minutes, Italy uncorked a withering 10-0 run, Verona's three with 1:09 left tying the match at 77-77.

Borlase gave Aokuso an exceptional dish for 79-77 and when Wilson was fouled with 8.3 seconds left, she knocked down both free throws for 81-77. 

There was no time even for a sigh of relief as Blasigh stuck a monster 3-pointer for 80-81, Borlase fouled with 4.6 seconds remaining.

She converted the second free throw, Francesca Pasa driving hard to the hoop only to have her layup for the tie roll around the rim and fall out.

The look of relief on Talbot's face said it all but in truth, given the adveristy with which the Opals dealt and the fact Italy won just one game at this tournament, any other result would have been an injustice.

FIBA Women's World Cup Results

Quarter Finals Draw

USA v Hungary     France v China   Belgium v Germany

Spain v Australia (4:45am EST, 4:15am SA and NT)   

Quarter Final Qualifiers

Hungary 84, Japan 63; Germany 94, Korea 56; China 75, Puerto Rico 72; Australia Opals 82 (Borlase 30, Aokuso 15, Talbot 14; Talbot 9 rebs; Wilson 8 assts) d Italy 80 (Verona 23, Blasigh 13, Andre 11; Cubaj 8 rebs; Cubaj 5 assts)

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