SYDNEY, Australia — A rampant US set a new
all-time
women’s basketball World Cup scoring record Monday with a 145–69
demolition of South Korea, while Belgium, France, and China all booked their
place in the quarter-finals.
اضافة اعلان
Eight of the Americans’ 12-strong roster hit double
figures, led by Brionna Jones with 24 points, eight rebounds and one assist in
Sydney.
A’ja Wilson drilled 20 points and Breanna Stewart 18
as the three-time defending champions ran riot with an overwhelming defensive
display.
Shakira Austin netted a field goal with just seconds
left to ensure the record, which was previously held by Brazil, who crushed
Malaysia 143–50 in a group game at the 1990 tournament.
“I thought we got off to a bit of a slower start
than we wanted, but we had a group that came in that really changed things for
us,” said US coach Cheryl Reeve, whose all-conquering team beat their previous
best of 119 points.
“We got more pressure and I think our size was a
problem for them and I thought we shared the ball well.”
The US, who had already qualified for the
quarterfinals, were on another level, passing 30 or more points in all four
frames against a Korean team that has struggled without marquee star Park
Ji-su.
“It was huge,” said Wilson after the team shot an outstanding
66 percent from the field. “I think everyone scored and that’s the beauty of
it. It comes from everyone, from one to 12.”
Defeat left the Asian side facing a crunch Group A
game on Tuesday against
Puerto Rico with a quarter-final slot at stake.
“I try to focus on how we played rather than the
result of the game. I wanted our players to show their best ability and
confidence on the court,” said Korean coach Jung Sun-min. “Individually I think
we played very hard and very well today.”
‘Very focused’
Point guard Hind Ben
Abdelkader poured in 18 points for Belgium as they ended Bosnia and
Herzegovina’s tournament dreams.
Aiming to better their fourth place in 2018, they
swept home 85–55 to join the US and China in the last eight from Group A.
Kyara Linskens and Julie Vanloo both chipped in with
13 points for their third straight win of the 10-day competition after an
opening day loss to the US.
Defeat ended any hope the Bosnians had in a hugely
disappointing debut tournament, where they leaked 364 points over four
consecutive defeats, with Belgium successfully blunting the threat posed by
danger woman Jonquel Jones.
“We played a very good defense on Jones and as a
team we were very focused,” said Belgium coach Valery Demory.
The top four teams from each of the two groups
progress to the quarter-finals, with China also through after easing past
Puerto Rico 95–60 with Li Yueru leading the way on 16 points and eight
rebounds.
Serbia kept their hopes alive in a tough Group B,
beating Mali 81–68 to end the African team’s tournament.
Canada were already through but lost their unbeaten
streak against hosts and 2018 finalists Australia, who narrowly won a physical
game 75–72 to put them on the cusp of the last eight.
“We didn’t play our best basketball, but we found a
way to win,” said Australia coach Sandy Brondello, with Steph Talbot bagging 11
points, nine rebounds, and eight assists.
Olympic bronze medalists France went through by
overcoming Japan 67–53, whose ball movement and relentless defense that defined
their run to the Tokyo Olympics final last year have so far been largely
absent.
They face a must-win match against Australia on Tuesday.
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