SHENZHEN (China) - China moved on the verge of sweeping their way into the FIBA Women's Asia Cup 2025 Semi-Finals following a 91-69 rout of a banged-up Korea, Tuesday night at the Shenzhen Sports Center.
Team Dragon turned it up in the middle quarters, taking control of the game late in the second chapter before pulling away for good in the third canto toward securing their second win in as many outings.
As a result, they've remained on top of Group A, and can clinch the no. 1 seed - and the remaining direct ticket to the final four - with a win against the 1-1 New Zealand tomorrow, Wednesday, July 16, at 19:30 local time.
"The game tonight had significant importance for us to finish our task in the pool stage," offered head coach Gong Luming shortly after the victory. "We, as a young team, really wanted to play this game well."
All but one of the 12 players scored in the triumph, with the towering tandem of Han Xu and 2.20 M (7'3") wunderkind Zhang Ziyu finishing with 18 points apiece, with the former adding 12 rebounds.
Zhang herself was crucial in Team China's second-quarter surge that put them ahead the rest of the way, forming a three-headed attack with Yang Liwei and Huang Sijing to turn a 22-all knot to a 36-29 lead at the half.
Huang was responsible in breaking the said deadlock following a perfect trip to the free throw line with 5:28 remaining, before Zhang and Yang came in to help her out and further add to their lead.
Zhang continued her solid play after the break, scoring six in a crucial 10-2 run - which she herself concluded with a bucket off a Han lob in a solid high-low action - for a 46-31 advantage with 7:50 left in the third.
"In the beginning the players were tight; especially on offense, we were rushing a bit. I thought we didn't play the level we should be playing ... but in the second half, the team played with much more freedom," Gong said.
Yang delivered 11 points, 4 rebounds, and 8 assists as she ran the point commendably. Zhang Ru made 10 points while Wang Siyu (9 points, 8 assists) and Yang Shuyu (9 points, 9 rebounds) nearly had double-doubles.
China shot 52.8-percent from the field thanks to their 32 assists, replicating that same output they produced in their dominant conquest of Indonesia last Sunday. They also ruled the rebounding battle, 54-32.
Choi Isaem, on the other hand, finished with 16 points and 7 rebounds, with An Heji tallying a 15-6-7 stat line as the duo led the way for a Korea side that missed the services of Kang Leeseul due to an unspecified injury.
Kang got hurt during their eventual 78-76 escape versus New Zealand Monday and never returned, but adding to their woes was the apparent shoulder injury sustained by star center Park Jisu in their latest loss.
Hero of that win against the Tall Ferns with her game-winning layup, Park was in pain late in the second period after trying to defend Zhang and had to leave the match shortly after, although she managed to return later.
Still, it affected her overall play although she managed to net 8 points and 4 rebounds, and her team tried what they could to fight back despite their predicament by cutting the gap to just 11 early in the fourth quarter.
But they can only do so much, with Huang knocking down a wide-open trifecta and Han nailing one from mid-range to make it a 73-57 China lead with 7:26 to go, effectively restoring order for the host nation.
Soon, their lead would rise to 20 points twice, the last of which was at 86-66 with 2:50 left in the game following a triple courtesy of Yang, much to the delight of their ever-appreciative home fans inside the venue.
Park Jihyun and Kang Yoolim added 10 points apiece for Korea, who fell to 1-1 following the defeat and will look to get back on track right away against Indonesia (0-2) tomorrow as well at 16:30 local time.
FIBA