Day 5 Round-Up: Australia, Spain continue winning spree

BANGKOK (FIBA U19 World Championship for Women) - Australia's U19 Gems and Spain continued their winning run in the championship even as the United States stopped Russia from recording a similar feat on Tuesday.

Australia's 92-65 win - their fifth in a row here - against the Czech Republic not only put Dean Kinsman's girls in the quarterfinals, but also assured that the Gems are unassailable in Group E.

No other team in Group E is in a position to score five wins.

Czech Republic are 3-2, a situation shared by Lithuania and Argentina.

Lithuania staged a remarkable rally to defeat France 54-42 and Argentina scored over cross-border rivals Brazil 70-46.

Both Brazil and France are 2-3, with the former having the Herculean task of beating Australia on Wednesday to remain in contention.

In Group E, Spain won their fifth game in as many outings, beating Canada 72-56, but their place on top will be assured with only a win against Russia on Wednesday.

The US and Russia are locked 4-1 after the former won the day's encounter between the two 75-56.

Japan defeated China 78-70, and went up 2-3 leaving the Chinese reeling at 1-4. Canada too are 2-3.

Group E

Lithuania's blistering 19-1 run interspersed by the fourth quarter break was the talking point of the day.

Trailing 26-33 with about five minutes left in the third quarter, Lithuania made their move reeling in 19 points with Medelome Medenou's lone free-throw conversion helping the French from drawing a blank.

Sparked by that run, Lithuania consolidated their position to ensure a win.

Marina Solopova top scored the game with 21 points for Argentina. Giedre Paugaite recorded a double-double collecting 13 rebounds and scoring 10 points.

Adja Konteh was the highest scorer for France with 13 points.

Australia were as robust as ever, despite Elizabeth Cambage not leading their scoring for the first time in the competition.

The 203-cm centre returned 10 points to keep her position on top of the scoring for the tournament secure with 20.3 PPG, but Rachel Jarry led the Aussies' scoring with 17 points. Jarry also collected 10 boards.

Eva Skutilova was the highest scorer for the Czechs with 14 points.

Argentina, like Australia, had no trouble in quashing the Brazilian challenge.

Debora Gonzalez led the scoring for the game as Ornella Santana played a key role in the Argentine victory.

Santana collected eight rebounds to go with her 15 points. Burani and Nayla Kraft both scored 11 points each.

No Brazil player scored in double digits.

Group F

The US made the most of their rivals' profligacy in racing away to their fourth successive win, their only loss coming against Spain on the opening day.

A meager 3/19 in field attempts in the fourth quarter and 0/7 in three-pointers spoke for the Russians' struggle with their scoring in the closing moments, especially against a rival who showed far more consistency.

Nnemkadi Ogwumike had another field day for the US with a double-double - a game-high 12 points and 13 rebounds.

All the 12 Russian players took to the court, and all of them scored but none in double figures.

Yuka Mamiya, Kyoko Ito and Kana Motoyama who together had helped Japan beat China in the gold medal game of the FIBA Asia U18 Championship at Medan last year came up with an almost identical performance to produce a similar result.

Mamiya scored 18 points, Ito 17 points and Motoyama 16.

Zheng Bowen led the scoring for the game with 19 points for China and Lu Wen had 12.

Spain cruised along after taking time to settle down.

Cristina Ouvina led Spain's scoring with 17 points. Leonor Rodriguez who had started off Spain's march midway through the first quarter returned 15 points and collected seven boards.

Marta Xargay Casademont scored 14 points, including converting three of her six three-pointer attempts as Spain shrugged off Marta Tudanca's off-colour showing.

Classification

Korea routed African champions Mali 68-52 to take the 13th place in the rankings as Tunisia scored their maiden win - with an 80-65 win over hosts Thailand to take the 15th spot.

Thailand finished last.

Kim Gayoung was 14/28 in field attempts, including converting four of her nine three-point shots, and finished with a game-high 24 points for Korea.

Ouleymatou Coulibaly was the highest scorer for the Malinians with 17 points.

Tunisia's Lilia Inoubli led the scoring for the game with 26 points and collected 11 boards.

Pornnutcha Sawatong and Suwimon Sangtad each scored 16 points for Thailand.

S Mageshwaran
FIBA