Australia will have to wait for their first Asia Cup women's basketball title after a 74-60 semi-final loss to a Han Xu-inspired China in Sydney.
The Opals scored the first five points of the game but couldn't get into any offensive rhythm, apart from forward Alice Kunek who scored 16 points at a 50 per cent clip from the field.
China's 205cm superstar centre Xu proved a major factor, contributing 17 points 15 rebounds and four blocks.
She nailed four of five three-point attempts including a dagger on the halftime buzzer, which gave China a 35-32 lead.
Australia trailed for almost all the rest of the intense encounter.
China made a decisive move towards the end of the third quarter outscoring Australia 9-2 to lead 53-43 going into the last.
The Opals couldn't get the deficit into single figures in the final quarter and paid the price for missing too many layups through the game.
Australia will contest Sunday's bronze medal game against New Zealand, who lost 88-52 in the other semi-final to Japan, who will be looking for a sixth straight Asia Cup title.
"We fought really hard as a group and there was definitely some possessions that we wished we could get back," Kunek told AAP.
"But we've just got to stay strong as a group and go and get that bronze medal tomorrow."
Two very loud sets of supporters generated a febrile atmosphere, adding to the on-court intensity, as both teams struggled offensively at the start and played strong defence.
Between them they missed their first 13 field goal attempts, China nine and Australia four and both shot under 40 per cent from the field.
Kunek apart, the only other Opals to score in double figures were guards Shyla Heal (12) and Maddison Rocci (10).
China out rebounded Australia 45-38 and made life particularly hard for in-form Opals centre Lauren Scherf, who made just four of 13 from the field.
"They just proved too big, too strong and they did a great job adjusting and going with the bigger lineup which took away any advantage we're able to create with our offence," acting Opals head coach Shannon Seebohm said.
"Well deserved win to them but at the same time, I'm very proud of our team, we defended exceptionally well."
"We probably held them to a score that we could win the game with, unfortunately we didn't capitalise and missed too many layups."
Guard Jihyun Park scored 24, for South Korea in their 80-71 win over the Philippines in the playoff for fifth and sixth.
