GB's women basketball team suffered an 87-63 pre-Olympics defeat to Australia on Saturday.
Hosts have plenty of work to do before they face Australia again
GB's women basketball team suffered an 87-63 pre-Olympics defeat to Australia in Sheffield on Saturday.
The defeat showed coach Tom Maher how much work there is left to do in the next two weeks before they face Australia again in their opening game in London.
Poor shooting cost Britain, most obviously in the third quarter when they managed only two points over a seven-and-a-half minute stretch that saw Australia power clear.
Britain could not find a way to defend Australia's 6ft 8in centre Elizabeth Cambage, who scored 12 points in the first quarter alone to help the Opals claim a 28-23 lead.
With Britain unable to create the shots they wanted, Australia continued to pull clear in the second quarter.
Although Cambage's scoring slowed before half-time, her rebounding allowed others to step up and their lead reached double figures on Jenna O'Hea's three-pointer that made it 45-35.
But Britain rallied and when Jo Leedham sank a three-pointer late in the half, it was 48-45 to the Australians.
Responded
The Opals responded, however, and O'Hea made it 52-45 before Kristi Harrower narrowly missed a half-court shot on the buzzer.
Britain's shooting touch deserted them in the second half, and when Lauren Jackson rolled in a lay-up at the midway point of the third quarter, the Australians led 62-47.
This was the hugely damaging stretch of the game for Britain as Jackson pushed Australia's edge to 20, 67-47, before the points began to flow again for the hosts.
Temi Fagbenle made a lay-up and a three from Jeneya Wade-Fray got Britain rolling, but the hosts, who went into the final quarter trailing 71-54, could not find a way to bridge the gap.
Cambage finished top-scorer with 29 points for Australia, while Belinda Snell had 16 and O'Hea 13. For Britain, Leedham led with 12 points and Azania Stewart added 10.
