Opals point guard Tessa Lavey catches eye of WNBA scouts during clash with Team USA

LIZ Cambage proved her worth to the Opals but it was another Aussie who caught the eye of WNBA scouts at Madison Square Gardens.

Elizabeth Cambage and the opals took it up the Team USA. File photo

OPALS coach Brendan Joyce walked away from a career highlight — coaching Australia at Madison Square Gardens — believing his side can still win an Olympic gold medal.

Australia took it up to Team USA for most of the first half of their final warm-up game for Rio before eventually losing 104-89.

America’s depth of talent, shooting potency and some brilliant cameos from Brittney Griner and Diana Taurasi meant Australia never seriously threatened.

But whenever 203cm centre Elizabeth Cambage was on the floor Australia looked world-beaters.

Yet again she was in early foul trouble which kept her to only 24 minutes of court time, but it was enough to pour in 22 points and eight rebounds.

Teammate Penny Taylor labelled her “unstoppable” this week and as she went to work close to the rim America was powerless to keep her from scoring.

Her challenge will be to use her fouls prudently, even if several of them against America were hometown calls.

Leilani Mitchell (18 points, 16 of them in the first half), and WNBA veteran Penny Taylor (nine points, eight rebounds) helped Australia keep pace in an up-tempo, aggressive contest.

Joyce told News Corp that the controversial decision to play the US so close to the Olympics had paid off.

“I am really pleased. We have got a younger group and many of their players have been together for three Olympics,’’ he said.

Elizabeth Cambage, pictured against France last week, produced a strong game for Australia.

“People say we shouldn’t play them before the Olympics. I say it was the best thing we could have done.

“I had some pretty nervous girls playing at Madison Square Garden which was pretty full and they were chanting, “USA, USA”.

“The team scored better than I thought, we found ways, but I am not happy with the way we defended.

“We will be better prepared and in saying that, we can win.

“We have got nine of the girls that won bronze at the (2014) world championships and this is a great experience leading into Rio.”

Joyce revealed two American WNBA scouts had been in contact with him regarding Perth Lynx point guard Tessa Lavey, a terrier of a player with lightning speed.

“She is breaking people’s ankles out there, she can play and she just has to learn to finish,” Joyce said.

“I will give you the scoop, I had two calls from WNBA scouts even before this game because of Lavey’s quickness.”

Australia's Tessa Lavey has caught the eye of American WNBA scouts. File photo

Cambage will be double-teamed by rival Olympic nations given her dominance, with Joyce keen to develop multiple threats despite her weaponry.

“We had three American referees and it was a hometown court so it’s always going to be a little biased. But that’s the point of travelling and playing with adversity. It is what it is,’’ he said.

“Lizzie was in foul trouble and I decided to play her the last quarter and if she fouled out, she fouled out.

“She wanted to come out and I pretended I didn’t see her to get her to play through all that.

“They can’t guard her, I talked to her last night about it — she is the one player they can’t guard.

“But we have to be careful we don’t put all the pressure on Liz. We won a bronze medal (in 2014) without her and we have to have a multifaceted attack.”

Originally published as Opals point guard Tessa Lavey catches eye of WNBA scouts during clash with Team USA