By Eurohoops team / info@eurohoops.net
Serbia and Spain already qualified for the knockout phase of the Women’s Basketball Tournament at the Olympic Games in Paris 2024, but their ultimate clash in Lille was needed for supremacy in Group A.
The Spanish national team left their opponents hopeless, quickly escaping and reaching a 21-point lead. Ultimately, they won 70-62 thanks to a huge night by Maria Conde, who scored 15 points. She was followed by Queralt Casas, who finished with 10 points and 5 rebounds.
On the losing side, Yvonne Anderson led Serbia with 18 points and 7 assists, trying to complete the comeback in the fourth quarter. Angela Dugalic, Mina Djordjevic, and Jovana Nogic each scored 7 points.
Spain 🇪🇸 got a 9-point lead over Serbia 🇷🇸 at the half.#Paris2024 x #Basketball pic.twitter.com/3lK7g91joX
— FIBA (@FIBA) August 3, 2024
China stayed alive by beating Puerto Rico
Both China and Puerto Rico needed a victory to keep hoping about making it to the Quarter-Finals and advance to Paris. Thanks to a huge gap created in the first half, the Asian side won 80-58 and concluded as 3rd in Group A; they still need to wait for the other encounters to figure out their future.
Meng Li was by far the best player on the court for the winning team, finishing with 18 points, 7 assists, and 5 rebounds for China, while Xu Han – who came off the bench – went really close to a double-double with 10 points and 9 rebounds.
Puerto Rico, which ended the Women’s Basketball Tournament at the Olympic Games 2024 with a winless record over three appearances against Serbia, Spain, and China, had 20 points from Arella Guirantes.
Meng Li carries China 🇨🇳 to their first W ✨#Paris2024 x #Basketball pic.twitter.com/rYIlzLk1Kr
— FIBA (@FIBA) August 3, 2024
PHOTO CREDIT: FIBA Basketball