— FIBA (@FIBA) June 15, 2016Host nation France claimed the first ticket to the next round of the 2016 FIBA Olympic Qualifying Tournament for Women after blitzing past New Zealand in Nantes. Nigeria won a thriller after a go-ahead triple in the dying seconds, boosting the country's chances of making it to the next round. Powerhouse nations Spain and Turkey also made their debuts, and both sides didn't disappoint after picking up big wins.
Here is the Day 2 round-up of the tournament.
Nigeria 70, Korea 69
— FIBA (@FIBA) June 14, 2016
Nigeria remained alive in Group C after edging Korea, 70-69 in a thriller. Ezinne Kalu sank a go-ahead triple with only 4.3 seconds left in regulation, helping her team improve to 1-1 in the team standings.
That game-winner pretty much seals Nigeria's place in the quarter-finals, unless Korea manages to defeat Belarus.
Adaora Elonu finished with 13 points, 6 rebounds, and four assists, while Joyce Ekworomadu led the African side with 14 points on 6-for-9 shooting. Kalu had 11 points. Her game-winning triple was her only conversion from long range after she had missed her first five tries.
Korea led by as much as 19-9 in the first quarter after a Kang triple, and had control of the almost the entire match. Triples by Kang Ajeong and Lee Seung Ah pushed the Korean lead up to 62-54 halfway in the fourth quarter, as it appeared the Asian squad had the match in the bag.
Nigeria, however, responded with an 11-2 run. Kalu's three-point play gave Nigeria a 65-64 lead. A triple by Kim Dan Bi gave Korea a 69-67 advantage, but the team was unable to increase the cushion after a Kim miss.
That left Nigeria with 12 seconds, and Kalu drilled a backbreaking triple from top of the key.
Kang had 22 points on 8-for-13 shooting to lead Korea. Kim added 17 points.
Spain 77, China 43
Spain sent China crashing back to earth after a dominant 77-43 victory in Group D. Spain's top three performers -- Alba Torrens, Marta Xargay, and Sancho Lyttle -- combined for 46 points, more than China's total output.
Torrens led everyone with 22 points on 10-for-18 shooting. Xargay added 12 points and seven rebounds, while Lyttle finished with a double-double of 12 points and 13 boards. Laura Nicholls contributed nine points and 11 boards.
Spain was already ahead by 17 entering the fourth quarter, and still went on to outscore China, 23-8 in the final period.
The 2015 EuroBasket Women bronze medalists towered with a 48-30 lead in rebounding, and also limited China to only 29.3 percent field goal shooting.
No one scored in double-digits for China. Shao Ting had nine points, while Sun Meng Xin, yesterday's top performer, only had two points.
Turkey 66, Argentina 38
Lara Sanders scored her team's first 12 points and went on to tally 18 points and 15 rebounds as Turkey crushed Argentina, 66-38 in Group B.
Turkey outscored Argentina, 18-4 in the opening quarter to pull away. Turkey again limited Argentina to four points in the third quarter, while scoring 20 to put its opponents away.
Turkey assisted 24 of 27 field goal makes, four times Argentina's total output in that department (six). Sebnem Nezahat Kimyacioglu had 11 points. Birsel Vardarli Demirmen dished out 10 assists.
Gisela Vega had eight points and nine rebounds to lead Argentina.
Argentina had defeated Cameroon the other night, so unless Cameroon pulls off a huge upset against Turkey, Argentina will still advance.
France 70, New Zealand 52
The host nation used a 43-23 second half to pull away and defeat New Zealand, 70-52 in Group A. France recorded its second win in as many games, clinching a spot in the quarter-finals in the process.
New Zealand had taken control of the first quarter, leading by as much as five, 17-12 after free throws from Josephine Stockill. The Tall Ferns took a 29-27 lead into the halftime break, but France played better after intermission.
Holding a 52-46 lead entering the final period, France then launched a 10-0 run to break the game wide open.
Isabelle Yacoubou scored 19 points and grabbed 11 rebounds to lead the home side. Celine Dumerc had an all-around showing, finishing with 13 points, six rebounds, and eight assists. Sarah Michel also had 13 points.
Antonia Edmonson was the lone double-digit scorer for New Zealand, finishing with 10 points.
With France holding a 2-0 record, the Cuba-New Zealand match shall determine which team advances to the quarter-finals.
(All videos from FIBA)
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