Australia’s Summer Universiade women’s basketball team, featuring Sydney University athlete Katie-Rae Ebzery, will have to focus their attention on winning bronze after they were defeated by the USA in heartbreaking fashion in Saturday’s semi-final in Kazan, Russia.
Leading by two points with just over minute to play the Australian’s looked most likely to advance through to the gold medal match. From there, US guard Chrystal Bradford sunk a free-throw with 54 seconds on the clock to reduce the margin to just one point. On their next play Australia proved unable to score, allowing Bradford to hit a two point shot to catapult the American’s into the lead with 14 seconds to go. It was a lead that they didn’t give up, taking out the semi-final 79-78.
Sydney Uni Flames guard and SUSF Elite Athlete Program (EAP) scholarship holder Ebzery was fantastic once again, scoring 10 points. Australia will take on the Chinese Taipei in the bronze medal match tomorrow morning (1am Sydney time). Chinese Taipei were defeated 69-51 by Russia in the other semi-final.
In the pool, Sydney University swimmers Andrew Abood (100m freestyle) and Hayley White (200m backstroke) were unable to add to their individual medal tally after finishing fourth and sixth respectively over the weekend in finals. Earlier in the meet, Abood won a silver medal in the 4x100m freestyle and White secured a bronze medal in the 200m backstroke.
Both the men’s and women’s Australian water polo teams suffered defeats in the quarter-final stages over the weekend.
The men’s team will play the USA tomorrow morning in the 5v8 match after going down to Italy 8-5 in Saturday’s quarter final. Sydney University’s Paul Sindone contributed one assist.
The Australian women’s water polo team, containing Sydney University’s Maddison Schmidt, are through to the 5v6 playoff after defeating the USA 9-5 in Sunday’s 5v8 match.
Sydney University has a total of 17 representatives competing for Australia at the 27th Summer Universiade in Russia. Please note that Anneliese Rubie was named in the team but will not compete due to injury.
