SYDNEY, June 27 (Xinhua) — Favorites China and Australia moved nearer to the semifinals of the FIBA Women’s Basketball Asia Cup after recording highly effective victories right here on Tuesday.
China produced a defensive masterpiece in an 80-46 thrashing of New Zealand to stay unbeaten within the match, whereas Australia used their top benefit to crush Chinese Taipei 91-45.
New Zealand, buoyed by an upset win over 12-time Asia Cup winners South Korea on Monday, have been suffocated by China’s gritty protection within the third quarter and went scoreless for nearly 7 minutes till a brief hook by Stella Beck with 50 seconds left.
China’s towering middle Han Xu continued her sturdy kind with 17 factors and 13 rebounds. Li Meng and Pan Zhenqi every had 10 pointes for China. Grace Hunter (10 factors) was the one New Zealand participant to achieve double figures.
“I think we always focus on teamwork and for today, we performed much better in terms of defense than our first game,” Han stated.
China are the one unbeaten group in Group A and a win over South Korea on Wednesday will safe them a spot within the semifinals.
“We know their style, they play really fast and have good shooters. But we’ll be ready tomorrow,” China coach Zheng Wei stated about their conflict with South Korea.
New Zealand head coach Guy Molloy made a trio of adjustments to his beginning line-up, electing to relaxation main scorer Penina Davidson and Tahlia Tupaea for the whole recreation in favor of Josie Trousdell (nee Stockill) and Esra McGoldrick – whereas additionally selling Tayla Dalton off the bench.
China held the Kiwis to seven factors within the second quarter on 25% capturing because the Chinese constructed up the rating to 33-20 on the halftime.
China’s defensive expertise have been on full show within the third quarter, rattling New Zealand with a Han steal resulting in an open layup for Yang Liwei because the margin swelled to twenty factors.
After a quiet begin, Li Meng got here alive with eight fast factors as a tiring New Zealand resistance ended and China cruised to victory from there.
After a heart-breaking defeat in opposition to New Zealand, South Korea rebounded with a 76-54 victory over Lebanon.
They got here out aggressively and scored the primary 12 factors to overwhelm Lebanon, who face a must-win recreation in opposition to New Zealand on Wednesday.
South Korea moved the ball properly to create a slew of alternatives from three-point vary, the place they shot 14 of 45.
Jihyun Park hit 4 three-pointers and scored 18 factors to guide South Korea, whereas Trinity Baptiste performed a lone hand for Lebanon with 20 factors and 12 rebounds.
In Group B, Australia got here away with their second win of the Women’s Asia Cup with dominant show in opposition to Chinese Taipei.
Australia will play Japan in a mouth-watering conflict on Wednesday night time with the winner to ebook a semi-final berth.
Five-time champions Japan continued their unbeaten report with a snug 95-57 victory over the Philippines.
Having simply crushed Chinese Taipei 94-53 of their opener, a assured Japan took management early to guide by 14 factors after the primary quarter.
Himawari Akaho paced Japan with 16 factors, whereas Mai Yamamoto had 15 factors.
“Australia has very good shooting skills and are very good in the paint area as well, so that’s what we need to focus on tomorrow,” stated Japan coach Toru Onzuka looking forward to their conflict in opposition to Australia.
21-year-old Vanessa De Jesus, who performs for Duke University within the United States, tallied 12 factors however struggled along with her capturing in opposition to the miserly Japanese defence.
The Philippines and Chinese Taipei will meet in a must-win recreation for each groups on Wednesday.