The 2014 FIBA world championships for women is underway with Istanbul and Ankara playing host to the best of women’s basketball for nine days. Here is the round up for the first day.
Group A
Japan 50-74 Spain
European champions Spain got their world championship campaign off to a winning start as they defeated Japan 74-50 in Ankara.
The Spaniards led 21-13 after the first quarter and after the half-time break, raced away by holding the Asians to just 4 points to lead 64-32 and put the game beyond reach.
A double-double of 19 points and 12 rebounds from Sancho Lyttle helped Spain to victory, helped by 14 from Alba Torrens.
Brazil 55-68 Czech Republic
Czech Republic led by 10 after the first quarter and never looked back as they beat Brazil 68-55 in the group’s final encounter.
Alena Hanusova led the victors with 15 points as the Czechs look to emulate their 2010 form that saw them reach the final. They looked good against Brazil and after leading 17-7 at the end of the first quarter, the game already looked over.
Group B
Mozambique 54-69 Canada
Canada overcame a stubborn Mozambique side 69-54 in Ankara to get Group B off and running.
Miah-Marie Langlois, Kim Gaucher and Tamara Tatham all led Canada with 11 points.
Turkey 50-48 France
Hosts Turkey were made to sweat when Celine Dumerc had an open jumper to take the game to overtime. But she missed it and the Turks came away with a 50-48 win in Ankara.
France know that this got away from them as they led comfortably 27-17 at half-time, where they held the hosts to just 3 points in the second. Turkey came back though and earned the win.
Lara Sanders led the Turks with 13 points.
Group C
Cuba 57-90 Australia
Australia got their world championship campaign started by comfortably beating Cuba 90-57 in Istanbul.
The Opals led their Cuban counterparts 23-6 after the first period, and held them again to single digits in the third quarter en route to an easy win.
Penny Taylor was outstanding for Australia, leading them with 20 points overall.
Korea 64-70 Belarus
Belarus got their expected 70-64 win over Korea, but they were made to work hard for their Group C opener in Istanbul.
The Koreans got off to a flyer by leading 23-11 on the back of a quarter-ending 12-0 run. The Belarussians though fought back to hold their Asian counterparts to just 7 points in the second quarter to take a slender 32-30 lead at the break.
From there, the experience of the European side told and they ran out winners by holding their nerve down the stretch.
Katsiaryna Snytsina led Belarus with 17 points.
Group D
Serbia 102-42 Angola
Serbia routed poor Angola 102-42 in Istanbul in a game that was over after the first period.
The Europeans led 46-18 at half-time and it got easier from there, as Serbia pure size and sharp passing got the job done against the hard-working but smaller Angolan team.
Jelana Milovanovic led the Serbs with 16 points.
China 56-87 USA
China competed with the USA for two quarters, but a 21-8 third quarter saw the holders beat the stubborn Asians 87-56 in the final game in Istanbul.
Maya Moore and Britney Griner both led the U.S. with 15 points with the latter also getting four blocks.
