Basketball On The Internet.

OPALS supporters tomorrow will be barracking for a Serbian upset over France after Australia tonight staved off Canada 75-72 at the FIBA Women's World Cup, the match at Qudos Bank Arena a statement game from Ezi Magbegor and an exceptional Steph Talbot.

Magbegor arguably had her finest performance in the green-and-gold, ripping the game apart in a second quarter comeback and en route to 16 points at 60 per cent, seven rebounds and a hugely important tournament-high five blocks.

Talbot paced the Aussie defence before also finishing on the verge of a triple-double with 11 points, nine rebounds and eight assists.

Sami Whitcomb's 15 points included a team-best four 3-pointers, her six assists, four steals and block all vital in Australia securing the win.

It ended Canada's winning streak and ensured the Opals were through to the quarterfinals. But it now means to finish top two in Group B with Canada, tomorrow it needs Serbia to knock off France before Australia beats Japan.

If France wins, it will be in a three-way tie with the Opals and Canada on 4-1 records. Canada beat France by 14 and lost to Australia by three, making it +11 on points in their three-way 1-1 tie for first place in the pool.

France beat Australia by 13 and lost to Canada by 14, making it -1 on points spread. And while Australia beat Canada by three, its 13-point loss to France makes it -10 on points. That puts it through to the quarters in third spot, meaning it could face any one of Group A leaders USA and China.

Of course, a Serbian win over France tomorrow would move Australia to first place in the group.

The Opals put themselves back into contention with a strong start against Canada, Sara Blicavs inserted into the starting quintet for the injured Bec Allen (ribs) and working overtime defensively to keep Kia Nurse under wraps.

Forcing the first of several 24-second shot-clock violations, Australia jumped to a 9-3 buffer and was looking good until Nirra Fields (17 points, six rebounds, three assists) spurred Canada into action.

An 11-0 run took Canada 14-9 clear and it was at 20-11 before Lauren Jackson's threeball stalled the haemorrhaging. Shay Colley's triple to close the period had Canada clear at 23-14.

The Opals' structure already had begun to frazzle, Anneli Maley thrown on for 2:05 - not sure what she was expected to do in that amount of time - and the substitution pattern again haphazard.

It looked very much as the "panic stations" and reactive coaching which marred the last quarter loss to France, as Canada continued to cruise clear. Even a defensive stand in which Blicavs, Talbot and Marianna Tolo all blocked a shot didn't alter the hiccups at the offensive end.

Canada was out 28-16, then 33-19 before Magbegor caught fire. Darcee Garbin also was key in the sudden momentum shift as first Magbegor scored, then Madgen finished a play started by a Talbot steal with a 3-point swish.

When Garbin followed another hustling defensive stand with a triple, the Opals were back to 27-33, the huge crowd roaring and Canada taking timeout.

Magbegor scored from consecutive strong, aggressive moves to the hoop, Garbin's free throws then tying the game at 33-33. A Whitcomb steal, to Talbot to Tess Madgen for a 3-pointer and Australia was ahead 36-33.

The crowd chanting "De-Fence" yet again, Australia forced another 24-second shot-clock violation before running a last play that finished with Magbegor at the rim for 38-33.

A standing ovation greeted the Opals as they marched from the floor on a 19-0 run to halftime but Canada showed its own resolve after the break as Australia again lost its way. Bridget Carleton's three meant Canada was ahead 49-43 and the result again in the balance.

Triples by Jackson and Garbin helped but when Nurse struck a three, Canada took a 57-51 lead into the last, the tension palpable across the venue.

Tolo started the drive as the Opals again showed their focus, Magbegor starring and Whitcomb's three tying it once more at 60-60.

With Whitcomb, Madgen, Talbot, Magbegor and Tolo firing, they were left to get the job done and brought it home with great conviction. Talbot's open court switch dribble on her way to a layup and 67-63 lead was magical.

Canada grafted back to 69-70 before Magbegor slipped a sweet feed to a cutting Talbot, then blocked a big shot at the other end.

Talbot free throws gave Australia a 75-69 lead and while Fields put away a three, there were a mere 1.1 seconds to play as it landed. Australia still had two fouls to give on Canada's last play but chose not to use either. In the end, that didn't matter. Serbia beating France tomorrow does.    

MONDAY: Group A: Belgium 85 d Bosnia Herzegovina 55; USA 145 d Korea 69; China 95 d Puerto Rico 60. Group B: Serbia 81 d Mali 68; France 67 d Japan 53; AUSTRALIAN OPALS 75 (Magbegor 16, Whitcomb 15, Talbot 11; Talbot 9 frebs; Talbot 8 assts) d CANADA 72 (Fields 17, Carleton 16, Nurse 11, Colley 10; Alexander 11 rebs; Fields 3 assts).