Day 4 Round-Up - Australia, Russia, Spain record fourth win on fourth day

BANGKOK (FIBA U19 World Championship for Women) - Australian U19 Gems remained the only unbeaten team in Group E posting their fourth win in as many outings even as Russia and Spain recorded a similar in feat in Group F as the eight-final round got underway on Monday.

Australia were as nonchalant as ever in brushing aside Lithuania 69-53.

Russia played a solid middle game and defeated China 67-62 and Spain carried too many guns to outplay FIBA Asia champions Japan 81-57.

In other action, in Group E, Czech Republic checked Argentina 72-60, while France showed better flair in their attacks and surged past Brazil 59-48.

In Group F, USA outplayed cross-border neighbours Canada 64-50.

Group E

Australia almost assured themselves of a place in the quarterfinals with their win over Lithuania.

After an equally-sparred opening moments, Australia made their move midway through the first quarter and cantered through.

Elizabeth Cambage came up with another game-high performance scoring 20 points as Rachel Jarry justified her induction into the first five with a double-double  - 15 points and 11 rebounds.

Stephanie Cumming had a belated 19th birthday celebration with 10 points.

Lina Pikciute was Lithuania's highest scorer with 15 points.

Lithuania, now have two losses and as many wins.

A position shared by the Argentina, who lost to a clinical Czech Republic.

Michaela Stara scored seven points and playmaker Katerina Bortonova added as many in the second quarter as the Czechs took control of the proceedings.

The 2001 FIBA U19 World Championship for Women gold medalists had no trouble after that.

Alena Hanusova led the scoring for the game with 20 points. Bartonova had 18 and Stara 10.

Andrea Boquete was Argentina's leading scorer with 12 points.

Czech Republic now have three wins against one defeat to their credit.

France's win over Brazil left both teams locked 2-2, but left the French with the psychological edge for regaining their winning ways.

Alexia Plagnard, Laurie Datchy and Medelome Medenou all played with customary cohesion as France left Brazil behind after an equally-fought first quarter.

Medenou scored 10 points - the same as Datchy - and also collected 10 rebounds.

Plagnard was the highest scorer for France with 15 points.

For Brazil, it was their second defeat on the trot.

Tatiane Nacimenton was the highest scorer for Brazil with 16 points.

Group F

The United States kick started the proceedings in Group F extending their dominance over neighbours Canada.

A blistering 11-0 run that ran on either side of the first quarter break helped the twice defending champions to their third win from four games.

Canada have two wins and two losses.

Nnemkadi Ogwumike returned another double-double with 11 points and 12 rebounds.

Centre Kelsey Bone and guard Samantha Prahalis led the scoring for the Americans sharing a game-high 14 points each. Prahalis also had four assists.

The US at one point leading by as many as 21 points.

Kayla Alexander led the scoring for Canada with 12 points.

Russia let China do all the running in the first quarter and then took control over the next 20 minutes. China were back in force in the final ten minutes, but by then Russia had taken the issue out of their reach.

Anastasia Logunova led the scoring for the game with 17 points and 13 rebounds as Anastasiya Shilova and Tatiana Gregoryeva contributed 10 points each.

Ding Yuan scored 16 points for China to lead their scoring, but all of them in the first three quarters

China are now 1-3 the same as Asian compatriots Japan.

Having been stretched by China in their previous encounter, Spain raced away towards the end of the first quarter with a 10-0 run. And they came back to effects a similar run in the third quarter to take the game away from the Japanese.

Marta Xargay Casademont led the Spanish charge with a game-high 23 points and also pulling down 11 boards. She also had two assists.

Vega Gimeno chipped in with 15 points as Celia Menendez effected five assists to go with her 10 points.

Yuka Mamiya led a lonely and losing battle for Japan with 15 points.

Classification

Korea and Mali scored followed contrasting paths over their fellow continental rivals to set up a clash for the 13th place.

Korea warded off a mid-game Thai challenge to win 66-55 whereas African championsMali triumphed over Tunisia - a team they had beaten in the final of FIBA Africa U18 Championship for Women last year - 53-35.

Lee Jeonghyun top scored the game with 21 points - nine of them in the third quarter when Korea staged the recovery act. Ahn Hyojin sank four three-pointers in her 14 points.

Thailand who trailed at the end of the first quarter fought back gallantly - with Suwimon Sangtad scoring eight of her team-high 15 points in the second quarter to tie the score at 31 going into the changing room.

But Lee put Korea back on track.

Mali's win was the continuance of their dominance over Tunisia in the recent past.

Mali had beaten Tunisia 57-35 in the final game of the FIBA Africa U18 Championship for Women last year and almost repeated the exact same score.

Ouleymatou led the Malian cause with 13 points.

Zbeyda Arami's 19 points for Tunisia led the scoring for the game.

S Mageshwaran
FIBA