The Australians achieved the win with quality defence, physical toughness and urgency, all things coach Sandy Brondello emphasised to her team after a 75-62 loss to Nigeria in their tournament-opening match.

“We had to learn how to play against physicality,” Brondello said. “International ball is so physical.

“I was proud of the girls. We dug deep and had our backs against the wall. They showed a lot of character.

“Every game we keep getting better.”

Sami Whitcomb played a starring role, tallying 19 points, 10 assists and two steals.

“What a little ripper! She did everything,” Brondello said.

At 36 years old, Sami became the oldest player in Olympic competition to record more than 10 points and 10 assists in a game.

Fellow experienced campaigners Marianna Tolo, Cayla George and Steph Talbot rose to the occasion. Marianna scored 11 points and was unafraid to take hard hits and set tough screens. Cayla knocked down a trio of three-pointers from just four attempts. Steph Talbot contributed an efficient 11 points, nine rebounds and six assists.

Bridget Carleton was Canada’s leading scorer, making 15 of her 19 points from behind the three-point line.

Brondello kept the faith with an unchanged starting lineup of Jade Melbourne, Ezi Magbegor, Alanna Smith, Steph and Sami with the unit building a 13-8 lead to start the game.

The Opals restricted Canada’s shooting to an uncharacteristically low 33 per cent in the first half and 35 per cent for the game.

Cayla nailed a three-pointer just 18 seconds into her first minute on court for her first points at the Paris Olympics, to tie the game at 27-27 with 5:01 left in the second quarter.

As time expired in the second quarter she caught a pass that landed at her knees and knocked down a three-pointer to give Australia a 38-32 half-time lead.

Points were hard to come by for both teams in the third quarter and turnovers were prominent.

Carlton threatened to bring Canada back from the brink when her fadeaway jumper found the bottom of the net and brought Canada back within seven points with 2:46 to play.

Steph responded by dishing two assists to Marianna, who converted two three-point plays to put the result beyond doubt.

The result extracts some revenge for the Boomers, Gangurrus and women’s Rugby Sevens team that were all defeated by Canada in the past few days.

The last pool match for the Opals is against France at 5am AEST on Monday 5 August, with the host crowd expected to bring a finals atmosphere.

“We need to win,” Brondello said. “You see the chemistry they have. They’ve got a lot of young players and they’re very versatile.”

Jeff Dickinson-Fox