Liz Cambage scored 37 points and grabbed 10 rebounds as Australia rallied from 16 points down in the fourth quarter to beat Japan 92-86 and clinch the top spot in Group A heading into the medal round at the Rio Olympics.

Japan holds slim lead through high-scoring first half

The first quarter saw six ties and two lead changes with neither team leading by fo. Cambidge and Leilani Mitchell combined for nine of the Aussies 23 points while Yuka Mamiya and Ramu Tokashiki lead the Japanese with 14 of their 24 first-quarter points as Japan held a 24-23 lead after ten minutes.

Both teams continued to make shots and the game remained close, Japan taking a 35-29 lead through a Mika Kurihara three-pointer, at the time the largest lead of the game. Another Kurihara triple gave Japan a 38-31 lead, but Mitchell scored five straight points to pull the Bloomers within 38-36. Cambage then scored five in a row herself to give Australia their first lead since the opening minutes of the game. The lead would switch hands three more times until Japan emerged with a slight 50-48 lead at the break.

Australia center Marianna Tolo (14) shoots as Japan forward Ramu Tokashiki defends during the first half of a women's basketball game at the Youth Center at the 2016 Summer Olympics in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, Thursday, Aug. 11, 2016. (AP Photo/Carlos Osorio) Car
Australia center Marianna Tolo (14) shoots as Japan forward Ramu Tokashiki defends during the first half of a women's basketball game at the Youth Center at the 2016 Summer Olympics/Photo: Carlos Osorio/Associated Press

Japan goes up by as much as 16, Australia produces stunning rally for the win

The third quarter saw Japan's defense clamp down and hold Australia to 11 points. In that time, the Japanese increased their lead, Kurihara's three extending the lead to 61-54 and her three with 43 seconds left in the half pushed the lead out to 68-57.  The quarter ended with Japan up 71-59 in seemingly in the driver's seat, poised to be the second team since 1996 not named the United States to beat the Aussies.

Baskets by Tokashiki and Rui Machida gave Japan a 75-59 lead a minute into the fourth quarter. Down 77-61, the Aussies went on a 13-0 run over a 3:16 span to pull within 77-74. After baskets were traded, Cambidge scored a couple of more field goals to keep Australia within one at 81-80. Mitchell's layup gave the green and gold their first lead since the second quarter. It was now 85-83 and the backbreaker was Penny Taylor's three point field goal to put Australia up 88-83 with 53 seconds to play. A Asami Yoshida three was cancelled out by Cambidge's layup and a further basket by the Aussies produced the final score.

Next games

Both teams finish group play on Sunday. Australia will look to finish undefeated against Belarus while Japan face a must-win against France.