Opals superstar Lauren Jackson was adamant she would be right for Olympic duty despite missing Australia's series-clinching 85-62 victory over Brazil in the second women's basketball Test at the Sydney Entertainment Centre last night.
Centre Jackson withdrew from the game after pulling up with soreness in her right ankle after training yesterday morning.
She went for a precautionary scan which revealed an anterior impingement.
Team management rested Jackson, not wanting the star to aggravate the injury prior to Opals' flight to the China today.
However, Jackson was certain she would be right for Australia's Olympic campaign and team officials hoped she would suit up for the Opals' first game of the Diamond Ball tournament in Haining, China against the host nation on August3.
''It's a disappointment to not be on the court, but that's the nature of the game, injuries,'' Jackson said at half-time.
''But I will be back for the Olympics.''
Australia swept the two-match series despite missing Jackson and getting a modest eight-point contribution from its other WNBA superstar Penny Taylor.
In Jackson's absence fellow big Suzy Batkovic stepped up, scoring 17 points at 58per cent from the field and grabbing six rebounds and six steals.
Forward Belinda Snell was named the series most valuable player after finishing as Australia's only other double-digit scorer with 13 points.
As was the case in their 37-point opening game win in Wollongong on Monday, the Opals started slowly.
They trailed 9-6 early on, but recovered to lead 19-14 at the first break.
The tenacious Brazilians remained within reach through the second quarter, with Australia leading 34-27 at half-time.
A run of 11 straight points in the third quarter finally gave the Opals breathing space as they charged to a 57-40 lead.
Coach Jan Stirling went to her bench halfway through the third quarter and the subs responded by triggering the decisive surge.
The lead expanded to as much as 27 in the final quarter, though Brazil reduced the margin to 17.
Stirling rotated all her players, giving everyone some court-time.
Australia shot at 52per cent from the field and out-rebounded the Brazilians 31-23, though Stirling wouldn't have been happy with their tally of 19 turnovers. AAP
llllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllll lllllllllllllllAT A GLANCEAUSTRALIA 85 (Suzy Batkovic 17, Belinda Snell 13, Emma Randall 9, Rohanee Cox 9) bt BRAZIL 62 (Karla Cristina Martins Da Costa 16, Jucimara Evangelista Dantas 12, Graziane De Jesus Coelho 10, Patricia De Oliveira Ferreira 10) at Sydney Entertainment Centre. Crowd 3743. Australia won series 2-0.
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