Opals survive in last second after surrendering 20-point lead at World Cup

Opals reach FIBA Women's World Cup quarterfinal after Italy misses last-second shot A short-handed Australian team is still alive and into the last eight at the FIBA Women's Basketball World Cup despite surrendering a 20-point three-quarter-time lead before ultimately beating Italy 82-80. The Opals had a 69-49 lead heading into the final quarter of their qualification final against the Azzurre, but watched the Italians slowly chip away at it over the next eight minutes and 51 seconds before Costanza Verona's three tied the game at 77 with 1:09 left. Zitina Aokuso made a lay-up off Izzy Borlase's drive to end a three-minute scoring drought for Australia and Ally Wilson's clutch free throws gave them a four-point advantage when Italy was forced to intentionally foul with eight seconds left. The great escape appeared to be complete until a long-range bomb by Vittoria Blasigh off the inbounds pass left Italy trailing by just one point with five seconds remaining. Borlase was then sent to the line but made only one of two free throws to give Italy a chance for one last play while down by two, and Francesca Pasa appeared to catch the defence napping by going for the tie rather than the win. The speedy guard burst past Borlase and got her left-handed lay-up onto the backboard as the siren sounded, but the ball just rolled off the right of the rim and the Opals survived to move into a quarterfinal against Spain. Already without WNBA champion Alanna Smith, the Opals lost captain and star forward Ezi Magbegor after just four minutes when she injured her right knee on a drive to the basket, while Jade Melbourne played only three minutes. [Image text:] T+ TISS SWISS WATCHES SINC AUS 12