Australia's Cayla George, left, celebrates after making a basket during a women's basketball preliminary round game against Puerto Rico at the 2020 Summer Olympics, Monday, Aug. 2, 2021, in Saitama, Japan. (AP Photo/Charlie Neibergall)
The Associated Press
SAITAMA, Japan (AP) - The Australia Opals didn't get anywhere close to the start they wanted. They made up for it by how they finished with the big margin of victory needed to stick around the Olympics.
Marianna Tolo scored 26 points and grabbed 17 rebounds as Australia beat Puerto Rico 95-69 Monday night to advance to the quarterfinals of the women's tournament.
'œObviously very relieved,'ť Australia coach Sandy Brondello said.
Australia will play the United States in the quarterfinals on Wednesday.
The world's second-ranked team came in needing to beat Puerto Rico by at least 24 points to advance with another tiebreaker. Anything less would send the Opals home with Canada advancing to the quarterfinals. FanDuel set a line favoring Australia by 36.
'œIt doesn't happen very often does it in our situation?" said Brondello, also head coach of the WNBA's Phoenix Mercury.
She tried to get Australia to break the game into quarters and focus on smaller goals like trying to get three consecutive stops twice in each quarter. The Opals won by enough to end Canada's stay before the knockout round, though they needed a 10-0 run over the final 2:19 to clinch and start a celebration.
'œThe way we finished the game that's the brand of basketball that we're known for and that's what we're going to take into the (quarter)finals,'ť Australia forward Cayla George said.
Australia played without Liz Cambage, who withdrew before the Tokyo Games, and Stephanie Talbot, who plays with the WNBA's Seattle Storm. She missed the Olympic opener with an injured foot, played the first half of a loss to China but stayed on the bench for the second half.
George scored 19 points for Australia. Jenna O'Hea added 15, Leilani Mitchell had 12 and Ezi Magbegor 10.
Jazmon Gwathmey led Puerto Rico (0-3) with 26 points. Pamela Rosado had 13 and Jennifer O'Neill added 12.
The Opals missed their first five shots. Puerto Rico didn't and scored the first eight points and led 24-22 after 10 minutes. Australia led 45-44 at halftime.
Then the Opals dominated the third, outscoring Puerto Rico 23-8 in the quarter for a 68-52 lead.
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Australia players celebrate at the end of a women's basketball preliminary round game against Puerto Rico at the 2020 Summer Olympics, Monday, Aug. 2, 2021, in Saitama, Japan. (AP Photo/Charlie Neibergall)
The Associated Press
Puerto Rico's Sabrina Lozada-Cabbage, left, and Australia's Katie Ebzery, front right, chase a loose ball during a women's basketball game at the 2020 Summer Olympics, Monday, Aug. 2, 2021, in Saitama, Japan. (AP Photo/Eric Gay)
The Associated Press
Australia's Leilani Mitchell (5) drives around Puerto Rico's Isalys Quinones (25) during a women's basketball game at the 2020 Summer Olympics, Monday, Aug. 2, 2021, in Saitama, Japan. (AP Photo/Eric Gay)
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Puerto Rico's Ali Gibson (9) pulls down a rebound in front of Australia's Ezi Magbegor (13) during a women's basketball game at the 2020 Summer Olympics, Monday, Aug. 2, 2021, in Saitama, Japan. (AP Photo/Eric Gay)
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Australia's Ezi Magbegor (13) is defended by Puerto Rico's Tayra Melendez (1) during a women's basketball game at the 2020 Summer Olympics, Monday, Aug. 2, 2021, in Saitama, Japan. (AP Photo/Eric Gay)
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Australia's Marianna Tolo (14) is blocked by Puerto Rico's Ali Gibson, left, during a women's basketball game at the 2020 Summer Olympics, Monday, Aug. 2, 2021, in Saitama, Japan. (AP Photo/Eric Gay)
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Puerto Rico's Jennifer O'Neill shoots over Australia's Tess Lavey (12) and Leilani Mitchell (5) during a women's basketball preliminary round game at the 2020 Summer Olympics, Monday, Aug. 2, 2021, in Saitama, Japan. (AP Photo/Charlie Neibergall)
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Australia's Ezi Magbegor, second from right, leaps over Puerto Rico's Tayra Melendez (1) to grab a rebound during a women's basketball game at the 2020 Summer Olympics, Monday, Aug. 2, 2021, in Saitama, Japan. (AP Photo/Eric Gay)
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Australia head coach Sandy Brondello watches from the bench during a women's basketball preliminary round game at the 2020 Summer Olympics, Monday, Aug. 2, 2021, in Saitama, Japan. (AP Photo/Charlie Neibergall)
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