The Australian women's basketball team have received a taste of what to expect at the Rio Olympics in a 58-55 loss to Spain before Spanish fans.
After smashing Argentina by 42 points in the first game of their European tour a day earlier, the world No.2 Opals had a much tougher task against world No.3 Spain in San Fernando on Tuesday morning (AEST).
They trailed at every break and made just 10 from 26 free throws.
"That was the difference, combined with a high turnover rate," coach Brendon Joyce said.
"Overall our defence was very good but we didn't capitalise on our aggressive offense."
Steph Talbot top-scored for the Opals with 16 points plus three rebounds and as many steals, while Laura Hodges added 10 points.
It was the first loss in 2016 for the Opals, who are ranked behind only the USA, as they prepare for the Rio Olympics.
They went through a three-match Olympic test event in Rio undefeated in January, and earlier this month completed a 3-0 clean sweep of Japan in a warm-up tour.
Joyce said playing Spain in Spain was good preparation for the Olympics where they will have to face Brazil in front of a rowdy home crowd.
"The game tonight gave us another scenario of what to expect playing in Brazil," he said.
"The first quarter was frantic," he said.
"We were forced to go small with foul trouble placing Nat Burton and Laura Hodges on the floor. We then started to pull the game back."
The Opals next head to Italy to play Cameroon, Belgium and Italy over three nights from June 2.
They are playing a total of eight games in 15 days before heading back to Australia for two more training camps ahead of the Rio Games.
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