The Japan women's basketball team gave world No. 2 Australia a huge fright before succumbing to an 84-73 loss to suffer a series sweep on Tuesday.
Japan, which was without star player Ramu Tokashiki for the three-game series, was crushed 80-41 and 81-55 in the opening two games but stunned the Australians by taking a 43-42 halftime lead in the finale at Yoyogi National Gymnasium No. 2.
Australia, led by 205-cm center Elizabeth Cambage, eventually pulled away in the fourth quarter, but not before Japan had done enough to suggest it will be a force to be reckoned with when the two teams meet again at the Rio Olympics this summer.