The Australian women’s basketball team have qualified for the Olympics for the 10th time after thumping Germany 85-52.
Contesting the FIBA qualifying tournament in Belém, Brazil, the Opals confirmed they would compete in Paris after setting up their win with a commanding 54-24 first half on Sunday AEDT.
In a more authoritative performance than Friday’s nervy 60-55 escape against hosts Brazil, all 12 Opals got on the scoreboard against Germany, led by captain Tess Madgen’s 15 points.
Fellow veteran Bec Allen added 10 points, as did 19-year-old Isobel Borlase in an impressive Opals debut.
Lauren Jackson scored nine points, with the 42-year-old set to be selected for her fifth Olympics and first since the 2012 London Games.
Regarded as one of the greatest basketballers of all time, Jackson has won three Olympic silver medals (2000, 2004 and 2008), and a bronze (2012) with the Opals.
“Our first half wasn’t perfect, but we were locked in,” Opals coach Sandy Brondello said.
“We knew we’d be qualifying for Paris if we won tonight. Happy to get that behind us.”
Jackson, used sparingly against Brazil, came into the game midway through the opening term and had an immediate impact, dishing a sizzling assist to Ezi Magbegor, before knocking down a three-pointer.
Jackson’s seven-point opening term off the bench helped the Opals seize control of the game.
The Opals’ last game in the Olympic qualifying tournament is against world number 10 Serbia on Monday AEDT.
They are chasing their sixth Olympic medal in Paris, having reached the podium in five consecutive Games between 1996 and 2012.
AAP/ABC