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Burton and Opals Win Group A
August 11, 2016 07:42 PM | Women's Basketball
MORGANTOWN, W.Va. – Former West Virginia University women’s basketball student-athletes Natalie Burton (Australia) and Yelena Leuchanka (Belarus) completed their fourth game of group stage play in the 2016 Summer Olympics held at the Youth Arena in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil on Thursday.
Belarus (1-3) once again dropped a close game falling, 74-71, to Turkey; thus eliminating the Red and Green from the knockout stage. Japan held as much as a 16 point lead over Australia, but the Opals (4-0) roared back to outscore Japan, 32-15, in the fourth quarter to win 92-86 and clinch the top spot in Group A.
Elizabeth Cambage led Australia with 37 points, marking the most points scored by a player in Olympic women’s basketball in 28 years. Burton, a WVU alum, grabbed three rebounds and made a field goal in 17 minutes of action.
In a must win game, Belarus and Turkey played a nip-and-tuck contest. A pair of made free throws from Turkey’s Isil Alben helped secure the victory. Leuchanka, who graduated from West Virginia in 2006, led Belarus with 10 rebounds and scored eight points in another heartbreaking loss. All three of Belarus’ losses were four points or less.
The final group game on Saturday, Aug. 13, will pit the two Mountaineer alums against each other. Australia and Belarus will play at 11:15 a.m. The game will be live streamed at NBCOlympics.com. The quarterfinals of the 2016 Olympic Games are set for Tuesday, Aug. 16. A full schedule will be announced once all of the group stage games conclude on Sunday.
Saturday, Aug. 13 Schedule
11:15 a.m. ET (NBCOlympics.com) - Natalie Burton – Australia – Women’s Basketball vs. Belarus
11:15 a.m. ET (NBCOlympics.com) - Natalie Burton – Australia – Women’s Basketball vs. Belarus
Group A Standings
Team Record Points
Australia 4-0 8
France 3-1 7
Japan 2-2 6
Turkey 2-2 6
Belarus 1-3 5
Brazil 0-4 4
Australia 4-0 8
France 3-1 7
Japan 2-2 6
Turkey 2-2 6
Belarus 1-3 5
Brazil 0-4 4
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