BRA/BLR – Brazil end Group A campaign with upset of Belarus

BEIJING (Olympics) – Brazil’s women finally won a basketball game at the Olympics by defeating Belarus on Sunday on the last day of the preliminary round.

Paulo Bassul’s team thrashed Belarus 68-53 in a game which had no implications on the Group A standings but did remind everyone that the Brazilians have plenty of talent and will be looking to make more of an impact in two years if they qualify for the FIBA World Championship for Women in the Czech Republic.

Kelly Santos had 14 points while Francielle Nascimento scored 10 and pulled down 10 rebounds for the winners, who improved to 1-4 at the Beijing Games.

Belarus ended their Group A campaign at 2-3 but came in third ahead of Korea by virtue of winning their head-to-head encounter.

Belarus will take on the team that finishes second in Group B, which won’t be known until China plays the Czech Republic in the next game at the Wukesong Arena.

As it is, the Chinese, Czechs and Spain all have a chance to come in second.

Brazil will be feeling much better about their Olympic tournament after a win against a team that beat them in the quarter-finals of the FIBA Olympic Qualifying Tournament for Women in June.

The South Americans took the lead for good in the first quarter at 7-4 after baskets from Kelly and Adriana Pinto.

By the end of the first period, Bassul’s team were in front at 20-12 and they extended that to 39-26 by half-time.

Belarus, last year’s bronze medal winners at the EuroBasket Women, trailed by as many as 16 points in the game.

They got no closer than eight points in the second half.

Yelena Leuchanka led Belarus with 10 points and seven rebounds.

Natallia Anufryienka also scored 10 points and pulled down five boards.

FIBA