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BELGIUM's international superstar Emma Meesseman today tickled a triple-double, her outstanding all-court play underpinning a decisive 80-68 win over Australia's badly fatiguing Opals at the FIBA Women's World Cup in Berlin, leaving them on the long road to the quarter-finals.

Finishing second in Group C, Australia now will face the third-placed finisher of Group D, an opponent still to be determined, for access to the quarter-finals.

It was a disappointing result for the Aussies who had no real answer for Meesseman - Belgium's Lauren Jackson - as she steadily compiled game highs in points (22 at 56 per cent) and assists (8), and an equal game-high 10 rebounds.

And she did it in the most undemonstrative way, making the most of the Opals' early tactic of doubling the on-ball screen by rolling to the hoop as the screener and meeting lesser opposition (if any) there.

Julie Allemand (11 points, 7 assts) was a willing accomplice and centre Kyara Linskens (12 points, 10 rebounds) a regular interior problem for the Opals who still were without starting 4/5 Alanna Smith.

(So much for Basketball Australia's assurances not playing her in the second half against Puerto Rico was "precautionary". We're two games deeper into the tournament now and fingers are still crossed she will be back from her lower leg injury before the next KO contest.)

It took an Isobel Borlase buzzer-beater for the Opals to trail 17-23 at the first break and they were within a basket at 21-24 when Meesseman ignited a 9-0 run.

Belgium exploited Alex Wilson defensively and Zitina Aokuso (9 points on 4-of-9 shooting) again was frustratingly hit-or-miss inside.

A Chloe Bibby steal and fast break showed promise but a late three ensured Belgium led 40-33 at halftime.

A 3-pointer from Ezi Magbegor (15 points at 58 per cent, 7 rebounds) opened the third quarter but by midway, with Jade Melbourne trying too hard and missing on three consecutive offences before a Magbegor miss made it four straight dud attacks, the Opals were starting to fatigue.

They grafted it back to 55-60 with a period to play but eight turnovers in the last quarter - several of which accommodated Belgium's 11-2 start - ensured the road home was too perilous to successfully navigate.

The heroine of two previous outings, Steph Talbot was running on empty, her 8 points on 3-of-8 shooting but her 10 boards testament to the fact she was battling away.

Steph Reid may have offered something different but did not get that chance as Australia's main rotation players hit the wall.

FIBA Women's World Cup Results

GROUP C: Belgium 80 (Meesseman 22, Linskens, Vanloo 12, Allemand, Delaere 11; Linskens, Meesseman 10 rebs; Meesseman 8 assts) d Australia Opals 68 (Magbegor 15, Borlase, Melbourne 10; Talbot 10 rebs; Melbourne 6 assts); Belgium 76, Puerto Rico 64; Australia Opals 87 (Magbegor 21, Talbot 17, Fowler 10; Borlase, Talbot 5 rebs; Talbot 5 assts) d Turkey 71 (Uzun 24, Fitik 11, Burke 10; Bayram 5 rebs; Uzun 6 assts) at Max-Schmeling-Halle, Berlin; Belgium 89, Turkey 75; Australia Opals 70 (Talbot 19, Magbegor 11, Smith, Melbourne 10; Aokuso, Magbegor 9 rebs; Wilson 4 assts) d Puerto Rico 54 (Guirantes 14, San Antonio, McGee-Stafford 11; McGee-Stafford 12 rebs; San Antonio 2 assts). Puerto Rico 75, Turkey 71. Positions: 1 Belgium 3-0, 2 Australia 2-1, 3 Puerto Rico 1-2, 4 Turkey 0-3

GROUP A: Japan 102, Mali 97; Spain 83, Germany 53; Mali 82, Spain 73; Germany 74, Japan 58;

GROUP B: Korea 99, Nigeria 81; France 99, Hungary 53; France 95, Korea 69; Hungary 71, Nigeria 67;

GROUP D: USA 94, China 61; Italy 63, Czechia 54; China 74, Czechia 70; USA 55, Italy 52.

All pics courtesy of fiba.com