RIO DE JANEIRO - Australia's women rallied late to overtake Belarus 74-66 in the Rio Olympic basketball on Saturday to win their group undefeated and avoid the powerful USA in the knockout rounds.
Belarus' centre Yelena Leuchanka (C) goes to the basket despite Australia's Elizabeth Cambage during a women's basketball match on August 13, 2016
Elizabeth Cambage had 17 points and Penny Taylor 11 for the Opals, who had to come from behind for the second straight game.
Belarus led by as much as 13 midway through the third quarter, but Cambage scored nine of her points down the stretch to help bring Australia back.
"Even though for us there wasn't anything on the line, we want to keep getting better," said Taylor.
"In the fourth quarter we showed resilience again but we really don't want to be in those positions."
Australia made up a 16-point fourth-quarter deficit two days earlier to win against Japan, with Cambage providing the late spark in that game as well.
Avoiding the USA's bracket is a huge relief.
The US women have won seven of the past eight gold medals and the last five in a row.
They have been unstoppable in Rio and beat Canada 81-51 on Friday -- their closest contest yet at the Games -- for their 45th straight win in Olympic competition.