The Opals had a good run in the third-quarter but Nigeria resisted the fightback and scored the big points at key moments.

Alanna was the top scorer for the Opals with 15 points at Pierre Mauroy Stadium in Lille, making her first six shots in the contest. Sami Whitcomb had 13 points with Jade Melbourne the next best scorer for Australia with 11.

“This is a learning experience, and we have a chance to play better in the coming games,” Alanna said. “That’s what we need to do.”

Steph Talbot had a strong game contributing 12 rebounds, 10 assists and three steals. But she couldn’t hide her disappointment.

"It's not good enough, it's not Opals basketball,” Steph said.

“We knew that's what they were going to do and we didn't handle it well. We need to get the next two wins.”

Australian coach Sandy Brondello knows her team has to improve, while complimenting Nigeria.

"They just played simple basketball and then they made big shots when they needed to,” Brondello said. “They just competed really hard."

Brondello’s starting lineup included two Olympic debutants, Jade Melbourne and Kristy Wallace, alongside Ezi Magbegor, Alanna and Steph.

It was a positive 6-0 start to the game from the Opals, slicing open Nigeria’s interior defence for layups. Nigeria responded by picking up Australia in full-court defence and they caught fire from three-point range to find their way into the match.

Both teams were struggling to keep possession in a 15-turnover first quarter. Lauren Jackson checked in for her fifth Olympic Games halfway through the opening quarter, the first player off the bench for the Opals. She substituted Ezi and showed her strength protecting the paint with a terrific defensive rotation to block Ezinne Kalu. Nigeria emerged from the opening quarter leading 18-17. 

Coming out of quarter-time Kristy Wallace inspired with an improbable tip-in with the left hand around much taller players to give Australia a 19-18 lead.

Ezi went to work in the post frequently in the first half and was met with double teams and strong interior defence from Murjanatu Musa.

A comeback from the 41-28 half-time deficit was on for the Opals mid-way through the third quarter when Sami hit a three to cut the deficit to 10. Two minutes later, Alanna provided a further spark, combining a tough driving layup, a steal and an above the break three-pointer to draw within five points at 3:50 to go in the third quarter at 45-40.

Lauren splashed in a three-pointer to pull Australia within two points just 30 seconds from three-quarter time, 

Nigeria led 51-47 at the start of the final quarter and started better, knocking down a three, 54-47. Australia managed to get back to within two points 58-56 with six minutes remaining but from there it was all Nigeria.

The African champions didn’t panic and did well from the free-throw line to extend their lead. They scored 24 to the Opals 15 in the fourth quarter for their historic 75-62 win.

The victory is just the second in Nigerian women’s Olympic basketball. Their nine three-pointers against Australia were more than they’ve made in nine matches at the Olympics.

Despite the loss, the Opals can still progress to the quarter-finals if they can beat Canada and France in their remaining group games in coming days.

The Opals will have two days off before taking on Canada at 9:30pm AEST on Thursday 1 August.

Jeff Dickinson-Fox