Penny Taylor bounces back to torment France
One of Australian women basketball’s greatest ever players has produced an Olympic master-class to lead the Opals to an 89-71 victory over the highly-rated France at Deodoro today.
After an uncharacteristically quiet game in a scrappy win over Turkey in the previous game, Penny Taylor had a hot hand from the outset, leaving the French defence in riddles while trying to find a way to stop her.
The 35-year-old’s 31 points came on 10-of-13 shooting, including a trio of three-pointers. She missed none of her eight free-throws and also had nine assists and five rebounds.
Taylor was untouchable against France. Source: Getty
The Opals veteran had started the scoring with an uncontested lay-up out on the break after WA forward Nat Burton opened the floor with some strong work on the defensive glass. The Australians surged marginally ahead on the back of some gritty defence highlighted by a monster block from Marianna Tolo on France’s tallest player, 197cm Helena Ciak.
But some sloppy offensive work and poor shot selection then allowed France back into the contest, leaving the Opals with only a 21-19 lead at the first break to show for their dominance.
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Led brilliantly by Taylor and with some strong inside work at both ends by Tolo, the Opals then slipped their game up a notch and France were suddenly confronted with a deficit in double figures and climbing.
Australia’s defensive protection, particularly under the basket, and some smooth fast-break transition work was proving difficult for France, ranked two places lower that the Opals in FIBA standings at No.4.
With four minutes to play before half-time, animated French coach Valerie Garnier, who was clearly unhappy with the refereeing as she stomped the sideline in her high heels, was forced to call a time-to try and work a way out of a 15-point deficit.
France was able to mount a comeback through better structured post play on the offensive end and cut the margin to 12 before a tough three-point play by Tolo helped put it back out to 17 at the main break.
The Opals then took the sting out of the third term as they set out to grind the French to defeat and they scrapped to a 19 point lead with a quarter to play.
French guard Olivia Epoupa had her country’s fans in the crowd chanting her name as she desperately tried to get her team back into the game at both ends of the court, including a timely three point bucket.
But Taylor again proved the settling influence with a three of her own to put the Opals in front by 15 with less than six minutes to play. Tolo was a tough foil for Taylor throughout the game and even in the final quarter when she wore a swinging elbow from Ciak, she barely flinched and continued as a powerful presence.
