Posted by Chinadaily.com.cn on
China snatched its first victory in the FIBA women's basketball championship, defeating Nigeria 71-59 on September 14.
China snatched its first victory in the FIBA women's basketball championship, defeating Nigeria 71-59 on September 14.
The victory enables China to go on to the next stage of competition, after the Asian champions' two group losses to the United States and Russia, the top two on the FIBA world national teams ranking.
China is teamed with US, Russia, Czech, Cuba and France in Group F of the next stage, while Argentina, Australia, Litovania, Canada, the US and host Brazil are in Group E.
Miao Lijie contributed China's highest score at 22, but it was Chen Xiaoi and Chen Nan, scoring 20 and 12 each, who broke the deadlock in the third period to help China win with a comfortable lead.
Both Nigeria and China entered the game empty-handed, with the winners staying on.
China started the game with four three-pointers, and the two teams tied at 12-12. But China used a 15-0 attack to finish the first period 24-15.
The shooting percentage dropped in the second period but Miao's 15 points established a 33-26 lead for China in the first half.
China began the third period with a scoring draught, making only two points in six minutes as Nigeria shortened the gap to 37-36. Then, Chen Xiaoli and Chen Nan came out to lead the team to a 16-2 rout to finish the period at 53-38.
China went on to cement its dominance in the fourth period, leading 61-41 with eight minutes to go in the game.
China will play Czech on September 16.