China Women's Basketball Edges Puerto Rico 75-72, Books Quarters Date with France
AM730 · 2 SOURCESabout 3 hours ago4 MIN
Summary
China's women's basketball team secured a hard-fought 75-72 victory over Puerto Rico at the FIBA Women's Basketball World Cup in Berlin, Germany, advancing to the quarterfinals to face France. The dramatic contest saw Han Xu (韓旭) deliver a dominant performance with 21 points and 11 rebounds, while Yang Shuyu (楊舒予) contributed 15 points and 11 assists. A late free throw from Wang Siyu (王思雨) in the closing seconds sealed the narrow victory.
Key Points
- China opened with a 24-21 first-quarter lead before Puerto Rico overtook them by one point in the following two quarters
- With 25 seconds remaining in the fourth quarter, Puerto Rico narrowed the gap to 70-72, setting up a tense finish
- Yang Shuyu drew a foul with 17 seconds left, converting both free throws to extend China's lead to 74-72
- Han Xu, standing at 2.11 meters, dominated the paint with a double-double of 21 points and 11 rebounds
- France advanced directly to the quarterfinals after defeating Hungary, South Korea, and Nigeria in group stage
Why It Matters
Head coach Gong Luming (宮魯鳴) noted that while his players showed some hesitancy in the first half, they demonstrated greater composure and attacking intent after the break. The quarterfinal clash with France presents a significant test, as China's backcourt has been identified as an area requiring improvement through high-pressure tournament experience .
Head coach Gong Luming (宮魯鳴) noted that while his players showed some hesitancy in the first half, they demonstrated greater composure and attacking intent after the break. The quarterfinal clash with France presents a significant test, as China's backcourt has been identified as an area requiring improvement through high-pressure tournament experience .