Belarus booked the final spot at the women’s basketball tournament for the Rio 2016 Olympics with a 56-39 rout of Korea in the fifth-placed game at the additional qualifiers in Nantes.
Needing to win to qualify for the Olympics and losing to the Asian powerhouses in the group stages was all the motivation that Belarus needed as they powered off the starting block by scoring the game’s first 12 points and forcing the Koreans into difficult decisions throughout.
Offensively, Belarus scored 28 points in the painted area, and inspired by Lindsey Harding, Anastasiya Verameyenka and Tatyana Troina – who combined for 39 points – they return to the Olympics for the first time since 2008.
Harding led the winners with 17 points.
OLYMPIC GAMES (WOMEN’S BASKETBALL TOURNAMENT)
