FIBA U17W - Spain, Japan stay perfect, Australia grab first win

AMSTERDAM (2012 FIBA U17 World Championship for Women) – Japan and Spain both notched comfortable victories to remain perfect in Group B at the 2012 FIBA U17 World Championship for Women while Australia picked up their first win of the tournament.

Japan handed tournament hosts Netherlands their first loss of the campaign, 75-53, behind four players scoring in double figures to improve to 2-0.

Yunika Nakamura led all scorers with 22 points while Ai Yamada scored 17 points with Haruka Hatakenaka adding 14 and Evelyn Mawuli chipping in with 11 points, 7 rebounds and 4 of Japan’s 22 steals.

The Dutch struggled with Japan’s pressure defense and committed 32 turnovers on their way to dropping to 1-1. Deborah Vos paced the Dutch with 12 points.

Spain meanwhile led from start to finish, going on a 9-0 first quarter run and coasting to a 77-49 victory over Turkey to improve to 2-0.

Leticia Romero led all scorers with 15 points while Yaiza Rodriguez and Carolina Esparcia both hit for 12 points and Laura Quevedo had 4 points and 12 rebounds.

Turkey fell to 0-2 in wasting a 13-point, 6 rebound performance from Bürsa Akbas.

Australia avoided dropping two straight in beating Brazil 56-46 to improve to 1-1 as Tiana Mangakahia collected 16 points and 12 rebounds while Alicia Froling added 10 points.

The turning point came with two minutes left in the first half when Brazil’s top point guard Carla Lucchini picked up her fourth foul and did not return until late in the third quarter, by which time Australia had already opened a double-digit lead.

Brazil dropped to 0-2 despite Kanada Ribeiro having 13 points, 5 rebounds and 5 steals and Lucchini scoring 11 points.

Group B’s Day 3 action on Sunday has Brazil playing Spain; Japan hooking horns with Turkey; and Australia facing the host side Netherlands.

FIBA