Australia guard Penny Taylor shoots during the first half of a women's basketball game against Brazil at the Youth Center at the 2016 Summer Olympics in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, Saturday, Aug. 6, 2016. (AP Photo/Carlos Osorio)
The Associated Press
RIO DE JANEIRO (AP) - Liz Cambage scored 20 points and grabbed 14 rebounds, and Australia rallied from a 12-point deficit in the first half and beat host Brazil 84-66 Saturday in women's Olympic basketball group play.
Leilani Mitchell added 18 points and Penny Taylor finished with 17 points as the second-ranked team in the world had to overcome a hot-shooting Iziane Castro and a raucous home crowd.
Castro scored 18 of her 25 points in the first half, and Clarissa Santos added 10.
With Castro not missing early, Brazil jumped out to a 26-14 lead at the start of the second quarter. But Australia trailed only 39-35 at halftime, and Mitchell's fast-break layup capped the comeback putting the Aussies ahead to stay at 53-51 with 1:42 left in the third.
Australia quickly built that lead to double digits in cruising to the win over Brazil, which hasn't medaled in the Olympics since a bronze in 2000.
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Online:
AP Summer Games website: http://summergames.ap.org/
Australia guard Penny Taylor looks for the call from the referee during the first half of a women's basketball game against Brazil at the Youth Center at the 2016 Summer Olympics in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, Saturday, Aug. 6, 2016. (AP Photo/Carlos Osorio)
The Associated Press
Brazil forward Damiris Dantas, left, and forward Palmira Marcal collide during the first half of a women's basketball game against Australia at the Youth Center at the 2016 Summer Olympics in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, Saturday, Aug. 6, 2016. (AP Photo/Carlos Osorio)
The Associated Press
Australia forward Stephanie Talbot makes a layup on Brazil forward Damiris Dantas during the first half of a women's basketball game at the Youth Center at the 2016 Summer Olympics in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, Saturday, Aug. 6, 2016. (AP Photo/Carlos Osorio)
The Associated Press
Brazil head coach Antonia Carlos Barbosa signals from the sidelines during the first half of a women's basketball game against Australia at the Youth Center at the 2016 Summer Olympics in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, Saturday, Aug. 6, 2016. (AP Photo/Carlos Osorio)
The Associated Press
Australia guard Leilani Mitchell, right, runs into Brazil guard Taina Paixao during the first half of a women's basketball game at the Youth Center at the 2016 Summer Olympics in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, Saturday, Aug. 6, 2016. (AP Photo/Carlos Osorio)
The Associated Press