ISTANBUL – Erin Phillips scored 16 points and Leilani Mitchell provided a spark off the bench to lead Australia to a 63-52 win over Canada in the quarterfinals of the women's world championship on Friday.
The Australians will play either the U.S. or France in the semifinals on Saturday.
Mitchell, who finished with 10 points, scored the final five points of the first quarter to propel Australia. Her 3-pointer with 24 seconds left made it 19-17, a lead the Opals wouldn't relinquish.
Australia (4-0) led 26-20 before scoring 10 of the final 14 points of the half, capped by another 3 by Mitchell just before the buzzer to take a 36-24 advantage into the half.
Canada (2-3) got within 10 in the third quarter on consecutive 3-pointers, but could get no closer as Phillips took over.