Australia, Japan post thumping victories

Australia and Japan lived up to their top billing and posted thumping victories in their respective Group phase matches in the Division ‘A’ of the FIBA Women’s Asia Cup at the Sree Kanteerava Indoor Stadium here on Sunday. 

Australia dominated in their 78-54 win over South Korea in Group B while the reigning champions Japan outclassed Philippines 106-55.

Testing their bench strength, the Aussies started with forwards Kelsey Griffin Michelle (15 points) and Alanna Smith (13 points), who were outstanding throughout the game. Three-time Olympian Snell Belinda also added 11 points. Sim Sungyoung led Korea with 11 points while Jisu Park added 10 points.

Australia looked scrappy initially but improved as the game progressed. Belinda opened the scoring for the Aussies with a three-pointer in the opening minute and added another few minutes later as the Opals went ahead 9-3. Sungyoung then sprung into action as the Koreans hustled their way back to shock Aussies and clinch the first quarter 15-13.

After the quarter, Aussies took control of the game, with Kelsey and Griffin doing the damage with their quick movements and slick passing moves. They regained the lead (27-17) five minutes into the second quarter. By the stroke of half-time, Australia was ahead 33-18.

Point guard Mansfield Lauren Stacy impressed with her trickery after the break as Australia took their lead past 20 points (42-22). Australians led 57-36 after the third quarter.

Koreans did press for points in the final 10 minutes but the Aussies, making full use of their superior physical presence, kept them at bay and scored at regular intervals to take game away from them with the final scores reading 78-54.

The Opals play Philippines next on Monday.
Later, forward Evelyn Mawuli (15 points) starred for Japan as they powered past Philippines.
Japanese will take on South Korea on Monday.

India win

In Division B, India tipped off their campaign with a nervy 92-76 win over a physically tough Uzbekistan in their Group A encounter.

Skipper Anitha Paul Durai top-scored with 28 points for India while Grima Merlin Varghese and Jeena Skaria added 17 and 12 points respectively. For Uzbekistan, Elvira Salavatora (15) Natalya Koneva (13) and Elena Khusnitdinova (14) did majority of the scoring.

Results: Division A: Group A: China 77 (Li Meng 15, Shen Yi 14, Zhao Shuang 14) bt New Zealand 48 (Jillian Harmon 14). Chinese Taipei 77 (Bao Hsi-Le 17, Lan Hao-Yu 14, Huang Ping-Jen 11, Cheng Hsiu 11) bt North Korea 76 (Ro Suk Yong 36, Kim Hyang 23).

Group B: Australia 78 (Kelsey Griffin 18, Alanna Smith 13, Belinda Snell 11) bt South Korea 54 (Sim Sungyong 11, Park Jisu 10). Japan 106 (Evelyn Mawuli 21, Miyuki Kawamura 14, Sakura Akaho 12, Yuka Osaki 11, Moeko Nagaoka 11) bt Philippines 55 (Gemma Miranda 10).
Division B: Group A: India 92 (Anitha Pauldurai 28, Grima Merlin Varghese 17, Jeena Skaria 12) bt Uzbekistan 76 (Elena Khusnitdinova 14, Elvira Salavatova 15, Natalya Koneva 13, Aliya Samatova 12).

Group B: Singapore: 103 (Sarah Tan 21, Jacqueline Chu 17, Cheryl Poon  17, Ariel Ying Loiter 11, Zhi Lim 10) bt  Fiji: 38 (Bitilia Tawake 8).

Kazakhstan: 62 (Zalina Kurazova 14, Tamara Yagodkina 22, Nadezhda Kondrakova 11) bt Lebanon: 54 (Lama Moukaddem 10, Rebecca Akl 18).