SYDNEY, Australia (AP) _ Renata Hirakova had 16 points and nine rebounds to lead Slovakia to a 64-57 victory over Poland in the seventh-place game of the women’s Olympic basketball tournament.
Both teams were making their first Olympic appearance.
Hirakova’s three-point play with 3:11 to go capped an 8-0 run and gave Slovakia (3-4) a 60-49 lead Friday (Thursday night EDT). Poland (3-4) was never able to get closer than five points the rest of the way.
The teams combined for 57 points after a 34-34 halftime tie, twice going more than 3 1/2 minutes without either team scoring.
Anna Kotocova added 14 points for Slovakia, which lost 58-43 to the United States in the quarterfinals.
Margo Dydek, the tournament’s leading scorer and rebounder entering Friday’s games with averages of 20.3 points and 12.3 rebounds, had 21 points and 12 rebounds. The 7-foot-2 Dydek, who plays for the WNBA’s Utah Starzz, also had five blocks, giving her 21 for the tournament.
Poland lost 76-48 to Australia in the quarterfinals.