CZE/MLI – Czechs hammer Mali on second day of women’s tournament

BEIJING (Olympics) –  The Czech Republic bounced back from their opening night mauling against the United States by thrashing Mali 81-47 on Monday.

Jan Bobrovksy’s team scored the first 12 points of the game and extended their lead to 23-4 by the end of the first quarter.

They went in front by as many as 22 in the second quarter and cruised the rest of the way.

“The Czech Republic are a team that won the European Championship,” Mali coach Jose Ruiz said.

“They are on a different level to us. We are here to learn. We need to learn that how to play for 40 minutes. My players are still getting used to this atmosphere, too.”

Mali suffered the loss of captain Hamchetou Maiga to an ankle injury in the third quarter.

 “We do not believe it’s a serious injury,” Ruiz said.

Many of Maiga’s Gambrinus Brno teammates are in the Czech national team, including Hana Machova who had a team-high 14 points.

Maiga had six points and five rebounds while center Djenebou Sissoko led the Mali attack with 24 points and 13 rebounds.

The Czech Republic were eight of 18 (44%) from three-point range and 32 of 69 (46%) overall.

Mali made just two of their 14 (14%) shots from three-point range and were 15 of 44 (34%) inside the arc.

The Czech Republic will now take on Spain on Tuesday and that game will have extra significance for Ivana Vecerova and Jana Vesela.

The two will be taking on many of their new Ros Casares teammates like Elisa Aguilar, Amaya Valdemoro, Laia Palau and Anna Montanana.

“I’m glad that I’ll be moving to Spain to experience a different basketball,” Vesela said. “But I don’t want to think about that when we go up against them. I just want to play.”

FIBA