Game Report, Brazil vs Argentina 71-69, Group A

IBIRAPUERA (2006 FIBA World Championship for Women) - Helen Luz scored the winning basket with seven seconds remaining as Brazil started their Group A campaign in the FIBA World Championship for Women with a narrow success at the expense of rivals Argentina.

The hosts entered the final quarter with a 10-point advantage (54-44) but the Argentinians managed to close the gap, leading to the tense finale.

Helen, who scored 10 points in total, rebounded a miss from a team-mate and scored to save the day.

The Rivas Futura guard admitted afterwards: "That final ball was the ball of God. He blessed that ball. If I hadn't scored, we could have lost."

Brazil were 27-15 ahead by the end of the first quarter but Argentina closed the gap to eight points (40-32) by half-time.

Brazil pushed ahead again in the third period, winning it 14-12, but they had not counted for their opponents' recovery.

Janeth dos Santos Arcain (14 points) and Alessandra Santos de Oliveira (13) were two of five Brazil players to get into double figures.

Natalia Romina Rios and Gisela Veronica Vega both poured in 17 points for Argentina.

Luz added: "This game is a wake-up call for us, because we have to go on court more concentrated. We must be 100% focused on each game."

Day 1 Boxscores

Korea vs Spain: 57-87
France vs Czech Republic: 62-58
Argentina vs Brazil: 69-71
Russia vs Nigeria: 84-50
Cuba vs Chinese Taipei: 75-70
Senegal vs Canada: 64-65
USA vs China: 119-72

PA Sport