Game Report, Spain vs Korea 87-57, GROUP A

IBIRAPUERA (FIBA World Championship for Women) - Spain landed a first-quarter knockout punch against Korea on the opening day of the FIBA World Championship for Women.

Amaya Valdemoro had 17 points and Elisa Aguilar 15 for the Spaniards, who reached this tournament after capturing the bronze medal at last year's EuroBasket in Turkey.

Trailing 4-2 a little more than two minutes into the contest, Domingo Diaz's team turned up the pressure on defense and limited Korea to just two points over the next five and a half minutes.

Aguilar hit two three three-pointers as Spain took an 18-6 lead in that span.

They extended the advantage to 25-11 after an Ana Montañana jump shot inside the final minute of the opening quarter and early in the second, a pair of Laia Palau free throws stretched the lead to 33-13.

Spain went to the locker room for the half-time break with a 46-23 stranglehold on the game and were never challenged over the final 20 minutes.

Marta Fernandez, whose brother Rudy who helped Spain win the men's world title earlier this month in Japan, had 13 points.

Korea's Yeon Ha Beon poured in 21 to make her the game's top scorer.

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

By Jeff Taylor
PA Sport