#Glasgow2014: Diamonds Advance to Semi Finals

The Australian Diamonds have earned themselves a semi finals berth after topping their group with a 64-40 win over South Africa.

WA’s Natalie Medhurst starred for the Australians, scoring 21 goals in a brilliant display from goal attack. The West Coast Fever club member was constantly involved, applying defensive pressure and feeding shooting partner and fellow WAIS athlete Caitlin Bassett, who top scored with 30 goals.

Australia appeared refreshed from having a day off, and were too good for South Africa at both ends of the court, with Laura Geitz and Julie Corletto creating turnovers and the Diamonds’ mid-courters, regularly first to any loose balls.

The win was largely set up in he first half, with a 17-7 first quarter followed up by a 19-11 second term for the Diamonds, to lead by 18 goals at the break.

Whilst South Africa didn’t fold, they never posed a serious threat to the Australians, who ran out 24 goal winners, and now enjoy a two-day break before playing Jamaica in their semi final on Saturday.