For this last match of the competition in Villeneuve d'Ascq, the Pierre-Mauroy stadium is completely full. It is therefore a particularly noisy Marseillaise which launches this meeting between France and Australia.
Clémence Beikes hits the three opening shots but Jean-Aimé Toupane's players struggle to get into the game, at least offensively. After five minutes, Australia leads 8-4 and Valériane Ayayi is already out for two fouls. Gabby Williams is unable to hurt the Australian first line and it is Romane Bernies who brings a real plus when she enters. Just like Sarah Michel Boury, to come back to -2 (19-17) after 10 minutes.
The captain's interceptions always do good in the second quarter while the blue wall has been put in place. The problem is that the French are unable to punish and it takes a 3-pointer from Iliana Rupert to find a little luck in the area, after a 1/10 to start…
Clumsiness from afar weighs down the Blues
At half-time, the two teams are therefore perfectly equal (34-34) while it is the profiles that we have seen little of until now who contribute the most. But at 2/15 from afar, it is difficult for the Blues to make the gap.
Romane Bernies starts the second half in the five and the Blues punish twice from mid-distance while Valériane Ayayi finally succeeds in a new 3-pointer. But the French have difficulty containing the percussions of the Australians and it is indeed Sandy Brondello's players who are leading the race in this third quarter.
Especially since the 3-point shots are still not going in and Dominique Malonga misses several finishes near the circle. Marine Johannès is jostled and Australia turns to +9 (59-50) after three quarters.
Sarah Michel Boury starts the last quarter by taking an elbow in the nose from Steph Talbot and the captain of the Blues has to go to the locker room with a bloody face. The crowd rumbles against the Australian but the Blues are forced to chase the score. Except that Alexia Chery and Leïla Lacan find the target from afar consecutively, a small miracle in the festival of clumsiness offered since the beginning of the match, and the room explodes.
No hold-up
The gap is only five points (63-58) with eight minutes to go. It's Gabby Williams' turn to get going from afar while the French defense raises its voice again. Unfortunately, Marine Johannès is unable to join in the fun, getting caught in the back… before seeing her ankle twist.
A 3-pointer from Cayla George calms the blue momentum while Marine Johannès, back in the game, still can't find the target. Gabby Williams does better (72-67)… but the New York Liberty player finally opens her counter behind the 3-point line. France can still believe in it, at -4 (74-70) with 34 seconds left!
A new outside shot from Marine Johannès refuses to enter the circle and Australia snatches victory (79-72) and can rejoice. The Blues still reach the quarter-finals by finishing in first place in their group. A priori, they should meet Germany in the quarter-finals…
