Wheelchair Basketball - AUS versus BRA - London 2012 Paralympic Games

AUS 52 vs 50 BRA

LONDON, 30 August
In a hard-fought match of fast, agile play that offered a masterclass in manoeuvring, Australia fought off a feisty Brazil team to win 52-50 in women's wheelchair basketball.
Australia won bronze in this event at the Beijing 2008 Paralympic Games and silver in Athens and Sydney. Brazil have never won a medal but the team's fighting performance showed they are out to make history in London.
The two teams played cat and mouse throughout, with Australia pulling ahead only for Brazil to catch up immediately, and they ended the first half at 25 points each, with Brazil's Lia Maria SOARES MARTINS netting 18 of her team's halftime score, while Australia's Amber MERRITT totalled eight.
The chase continued in the second half, with Brazil matching Australia basket for basket as the Beijing bronze medallists were unable to maintain the lead.
Brazil rallied in the fourth quarter to equalise again before Australia once more pushed ahead to 50-48 with a minute to go. MERRITT then increased the lead to 52-48. Undeterred, DA COSTA E COSTA made it 52-50 for a tense final countdown.
Top scorers were Australia's CRISPIN with 18, and Brazil's SOARES MARTIN with 27.

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