FIBA OQT Women Day 3 round-up: Korea stuns Belarus; Spain, Turkey advance

Korea stayed in the hunt for a ticket to the Rio Olympics after outlasting Belarus in Day 3 of the 2016 FIBA Olympic Qualifying Tournament for Women in Nantes, France. Cuba also advanced to the next round after a slim win over New Zealand. Spain and Turkey, meanwhile, both scored blow-out wins to enter the final phase.

Here is the Day 3 round-up of the tournament.

 Korea 66, Belarus 65



After losing to Nigeria on a three-pointer the other night, Korea bounced back and did just enough to edge Belarus, 66-65 in Group C. The win enabled Korea to advance to the quarter-finals and also dashed Nigeria's hopes of advancing further in the tournament.

The first three quarters have been close for both squads, before Korea opened the fourth quarter on an 8-0 run to take a 64-55 lead. But Belarus fought back, and took the 65-64 lead after back to back baskets by Anastasiya Verameyenka and a three from Tatsiana Likhtarovich.

But Park Jisu scored the go-ahead basket to push Korea ahead, 66-65 with over two minutes remaining. The Asian side held on for the win, even as Belarus missed their last three field goal attempts.

Kang Ajeong led Korea with 18 points while Kim Dan Bi scored 17 points. Verameyenka led five players in double-digit scoring for Belarus with 15 points.

Belarus had previously defeated Nigeria, 71-60, thus giving Nigeria an inferior quotient. Nigeria would have advanced if Belarus won over Korea.

Korea is trying to return to the Olympics after missing the 2012 London games.

Cuba 64, New Zealand 62



 Marlen Cepeda sank two free throws in the final 1.2 seconds to push Cuba to a 64-62 win over New Zealand. The Central American squad advanced as the second-ranked team from Group A.

 Cuba led by as much as 32-20 late in the second quarter after a Ineidis Casanova triple, and did its best to maintain cushion until the end of the game.

 Cuba was still ahead, 60-53 with just under four minutes left in regulation, before the Tall Ferns made a rally. Jillian Harmon scored four straight points to cut the deficit down to 60-57. Clenia Noblet answered with two foul shots, but Harmon responded with two charities of her own.

 A long-range shot by Micaela Cocks tied the game at 62 apiece with only 12.8 seconds remaining. Noblet missed on the other end, but Cepeda got an offensive rebound, leading to two free throws after she was fouled.

 New Zealand was unable to respond in the last possession, as Harmon's pass was intercepted.

 Oyanaisi Gelis topscored for Cuba with 16 points on 6-for-13 shooting. Casanova and Cepeda each contributed 11 points.

 Cocks had nine points and six assists, while Kalani Purcell added nine points and eight rebounds for the Tall Ferns.

 Spain 83, Venezuela 55



Spain used a dominant first half to trounce Venezuela and score another lopsided win in Group D.

The European powerhouse broke a 7-all deadlock in the first quarter using a 10-0 run, and never trailed after that point.

Leonor Rodriguez topscored with 24 points on 10-for-13 shooting, which included 3-for-6 from three-point area, Spain shot 51.7 percent from the field, 40.9 percent from three-point area, and assisted 25 of 31 field goal makes.

Sancho Lyttle added 15 points on 6-for-7 shooting. Eleven players scored for Spain. Guard Roselis Silva had 16 points for Venezuela.

Turkey 72, Cameroon 46



Lara Sanders once again imposed her might in the shaded area, scoring eight of her team's first nine points as Turkey rolled past Cameroon.

Sanders finished 12 points on 6-for-11 shooting, grabbed nine rebounds, and blocked two shots in less than 20 minutes of play, leading Turkey to a 2-0 record in Group B.

Turkey led 41-15 at halftime, and allowed its bench players to finish the job in the second half.

Nevriye Yilmaz had 11 points, while Birsel Vardarli Demirmen and Sebnem Kimyacioglu added nine points each.

Turkey had 22 assists compared to only six for Cameroon, and also scored 14 extra points off 18 turnovers from the African side.

Monique Ngo Ndjock and Ramses Lonlack had 14 and 11 points, respectively, for Cameroon.

Pairings for the final phase

Spain-Korea
Belarus-China
Turkey-Cuba
France-Argentina

The four winners of this round will secure spots to the Rio Olympics and may return home. The losers will battle for the fifth and final Olympics slot up for grabs.

(All videos from FIBA)

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