Australia have been blown away 79-55 by the United States in a women’s basketball Olympic quarter-final mismatch.
The six-time defending champions extended their Games winning streak to 53, the writing on the wall after a 19-1 run against the Opals in the first quarter.
For three-time silver medallists Australia, the early exit follows a quarter-final loss to Serbia in Rio five years ago.
Leilani Mitchell (14 points, six assists) had her best performance of the tournament while Cayla George (11 points, seven rebounds) battled hard, but 21 turnovers stalled them in their lowest score at an Olympics since the Sydney 2000 Games.
Breanna Stewart was the architect for the United States with 23 points while Chelsea Gray had eight assists and Brittney Griner (15 points, eight rebounds, two steals, two blocks) did as she pleased.
Winless in their first two games, the Opals only scraped into the final eight on points differential with a late flurry in a win against Puerto Rico.
They had beaten the United States in an Olympic warm-up game last month, the victory coming a day after key centre Liz Cambage’s late withdrawal from the Games for mental health reasons.
While George and Ezi Magbegor showed promise, Cambage’s absence was felt on the big stage as they struggled to create an inside presence for easy points.
The United States will play Serbia, who came from behind to beat China 77-70 in a semi-final.
Japan meet Belgium and Spain play France in the other quarter-finals.
AAP
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