Despair for Britain
Great Britain's women failed to secure victory in their final match as they lost 78-66 to fellow strugglers Brazil.
Last Updated: 06/08/12 6:45am
Great Britain's women failed to secure victory in their final match as they lost 78-66 to fellow strugglers Brazil.
Only pride was on the line in a meeting between two teams that had lost all four of their games at the tournament but Brazil proved too strong as a hot start to the third quarter helped them on their way to victory.
Since women's basketball was introduced to the Olympics in 1976 the only other host nation to fail to win a game was Canada.
Brazil started with some hot shooting to hold the early edge, up 5-0 on Adriana Pinto's three-pointer and then 13-8 on another long-range effort from Karla Costa.
Britain finally drew level on Stef Collins' three - Britain's first - late in the first quarter and they were ahead on another bomb from Rose Anderson early in the second.
The teams continued to trade blows, with Brazil pushing 32-28 up on buckets from Erika Souza and Damiris Dantas, only for a three from Chantelle Handy and a fast-break lay-up from Jo Leedham to turn it Britain's way.
Another three from Pinto gave Brazil a 39-36 edge at half-time.
Pinto's third treble of the game gave Brazil a six-point edge early in the third quarter and the game began to get away from Britain.
Franciele Nascimento completed a three-point play from the line and though Kim Butler replied with a three-pointer, Souza then had four straight points to put Brazil 49-39 up.
Julie Page battled inside to make a tough lay-up and draw the foul, but she missed her free throw to leave the gap at seven, and Joice Rodrigues scored two quick breakaway lay-ups to give Brazil a 56-45 bulge.
Anderson lifted the crowd with a three but the gap was still 58-48.
Leedham's tough lay-up again cut it to 10, 62-52, late in the third quarter but Brazil soon stretched it back out.
The lead reached 70-55 on a Costa lay-up midway through the fourth quarter as Brazil cruised to the finish.
Natalie Stafford scored 15 points to lead Britain while Leedham had 12 and Page 11.
Souza and Clarissa Santos had 16 for Brazil, with Pinto adding 15.
