Petrie Leads Australia on Glass at U19 World Cup

Jessica Petrie led Australia on the boards with eight rebounds in 18 minutes, but home-standing Spain ran to an 83-68 win over the Australians in their opening game of the 2023 FIBA U19 Women's Basketball World Cup in Madrid on Saturday.

Petrie, a 6-2 incoming freshman forward to the Nebraska program, added two points, one block, an assist and a steal off the bench for Australia.

The game started slow on the offensive end with Australia leading 4-2 three minutes into the contest, before Spain erupted on a 10-0 run over the next four minutes to take a 12-4 first-quarter lead. After a free throw for Australia stopped the run, Spain stretched the lead to 20-5 with an 8-0 run, holding Australia without a field goal for 7:50 overall in the first quarter before Australia knocked down a three-pointer with 35 seconds left in the period.

Spain took a 22-8 edge to the second quarter and Australia was never able to cut the margin to less than 11 points the rest of the half, as the Spanish lead ballooned to 54-28 at the break.

Australia refused to quit, cutting Spain's lead to 12 points late in the third quarter, before trimming the margin to single digits at 67-58 with 7:43 left in the game.

Australia finished the day with 50 percent (26-52) shooting from the field, including 10-of-19 from three-point range. But Spain forced 27 turnovers by Australia while committing just 14 miscues. Spain also finished with a plus-seven rebound margin (40-33). Spain hit 31-of-74 shots (.419) from the floor, including 8-of-22 (.364) three-pointers. The Spaniards also outscored Australia 13-6 at the free throw line.

Australia returns to Group A pool play action by taking on Argentina on Sunday at 1:45 p.m. (CT).