Australia center Liz Cambage, rear, battles Japan guard Sanae Motokawa for the rebound during the first half of a women's basketball game at the Youth Center at the 2016 Summer Olympics in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, Thursday, Aug. 11, 2016. (AP Photo/Carlos Osorio)
The Associated Press
RIO DE JANEIRO (AP) - Liz Cambage scored 37 points and grabbed 10 rebounds as Australia rallied from 16 points down in the fourth quarter to beat Japan 92-86 and clinch the top spot in Group A heading into the medal round.
Japan looked like it might join France as the only team to beat the Aussies (4-0) in the Olympics since 1996 other than the U.S. The Japanese used their speed and athleticism to get good looks at the basket against Australia, shooting 59 percent to take a 50-48 halftime lead.
They led 77-61 early in the fourth quarter, but Cambage started the Aussies' comeback with a bucket with 7:56 left. She scored 16 points in the final quarter as Australia finished the game on a 31-9 run.
Ramu Tokashiki scored 23 points for Japan (2-2), and Mika Kurihara added 20 going 6-for-8 from 3-point range.
Australia center Liz Cambage (8) reaches for a rebound in front of Japan guard Sanae Motokawa during the first half of a women's basketball game at the Youth Center at the 2016 Summer Olympics in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, Thursday, Aug. 11, 2016. (AP Photo/Carlos Osorio)
The Associated Press
Australia center Marianna Tolo (14) shoots as Japan forward Ramu Tokashiki defends during the first half of a women's basketball game at the Youth Center at the 2016 Summer Olympics in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, Thursday, Aug. 11, 2016. (AP Photo/Carlos Osorio)
The Associated Press
Japan head coach Tomohide Utsumi talks to his team 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, Thursday, Aug. 11, 2016. (AP Photo/Carlos Osorio)
The Associated Press