Australian Gliders
While the Gliders would have been disappointed to fall to China yesterday, they carried the momentum from the end of that game into their clash with Japan, jumping out of the blocks with a 24-14 first quarter.
They scored the opening six points courtesy of Amber Merritt and Cobi Crispin and while Japan did come back to tie it momentarily, Clare Nott (eight points, three assists) and Georgia Munro-Cook (12 points) contributed to give the Gliders a double-digit advantage.
Australia was not headed from that point on, pushing out to a game-high lead in the third term before Japan won the final period by four points to make the scoreline more respectable.
As they did in their opening game, Crispin (23 points, seven rebounds) and Merritt (18 points, four assists) controlled the offensive end, combining for 20-38 shooting (53%).
20 of their 36 field goals as a team came from assists with Leanne Del Toso (six points, six rebounds, five assists) and Shelley Cronau (two points, four assists) sharing the love.
Find the full box score here.
The Gliders will now prepare for their final game of the pool stage against Iran tomorrow which will finalise the seedings for the women's tournament.
Australia will then be pitted against a Semi-Final opponent and if they win that game, they will qualify for the 2018 IWBF World Championships.
Australian Rollers
As they did against Iraq, the Rollers ensured there would be no upset in their second game of the tournament as they began the contest with 39 points in a row, including a 32-0 first quarter.
Chinese Taipei fought back with 13 points across the second and third terms but went scoreless again in the final stanza as Australia secured a big 91-13 victory.
Ten players hit the scoreboard, combining to shoot 38-60 (63%) from the field while Tristan Knowles was exceptional from beyond the arc, hitting 3-3 to pace the team with 20 points, five rebounds and three assists.
Michael Auprince (14 points), Sam White (13 points), Bill Latham (12 points) and Shaun Norris (12 points, six assists, five steals) joined Knowles in double-figures while Matt McShane's defence saw him tally three steals and help the Rollers hold their opposition to 19% shooting.
Find the full box score here.
Having finished atop Pool A, the Rollers now await the final results from Pool B before finding out their opponents in the Quarter-Final.
A victory in that game on Thursday will see them qualify for the 2018 World Championships.
The Australian Rollers Schedule for the 2017 IWBF AOZ Qualifiers (all times AEDT):
October 26: Quarter-Finals
October 27: Semi-Finals
October 28: Bronze and Gold medal games
The Australian Gliders Schedule for the 2017 IWBF AOZ Qualifiers (all times AEDT):
October 25: Gliders vs. Iran at 5.30pm
October 26: Semi-Finals
October 27: Bronze and Gold Medal Games
