LONDON (AP) — Lauren Jackson scored 21 of her 25 points in the second half to help Australia beat Russia 83-74 on Saturday and win the women’s basketball bronze medal in the Olympic tournament.
It is the fifth straight Olympics that Australia has won a medal. The Australians have won the past three silver medals and the bronze in 1996.
Russia cut a 38-30 halftime lead to three early in the third quarter before Australia scored 10 straight. Suzy Batkovic had a three-point play on a tip-in of a missed shot and Jackson had a putback that made it 48-35 with 5:21 left in the quarter.
Australia had extended the lead to 15 points with 7:21 left in the game before Russia rallied behind Becky Hammon. The Russians cut their deficit to 76-71 with 1:21 left but that’s as close as they could get.
Hammon scored 17 of her 19 points in the second half to lead Russia.
