09/08/26 03:36:00
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09/08 15:34 CDT Germany routs South Korea to advance to women's FIBA World Cup
quarterfinals. Hungary to play US
Germany routs South Korea to advance to women's FIBA World Cup quarterfinals.
Hungary to play US
By CIARAN FAHEY
AP Sports Writer
BERLIN (AP) --- Host Germany advanced to the quarterfinals of the women's FIBA
World Cup with a morale-boosting 94-56 rout of South Korea on Tuesday, and the
United States learned its next opponent.
Hungary, which beat Japan 84-63, will play the four-time defending champion
U.S. on Thursday.
Germany captain Marie Glich led her team to a quarterfinal against European
champion Belgium with 19 points and five rebounds.
Every German score elicited huge cheers from the appreciative home fans at the
Berlin Arena, particularly in the first half. Germany led by 17 points at
halftime.
The home team has been gradually improving since losing its first group game by
30 points to Spain. Germany rebounded with a 74-58 win over Japan and followed
with an 83-58 win over Mali.
Hungary eliminates Japan
Rka Lelik led Hungary with 23 points and eight rebounds in a surprisingly
comfortable win over Japan earlier.
Virg Takcs-Kiss also had eight rebounds and added 17 points for Hungary,
which will face the U.S. in the late quarterfinal slot Thursday.
"It feels incredible. It's been 40 years since we went to the quarterfinals and
I still can't believe it," Lelik said.
The game was overshadowed by a serious injury to Japan shooting guard Saki
Hayashi, who went off with what looked a broken right arm after an awkward fall.
Hayashi needed immediate medical attention a foul in the air from Agnes Torok
with just over a minute left in the second quarter. A blue tarp was provided to
give her privacy and fans responded with applause when she was led off.
Japan connected on only seven 3-pointers Tuesday. The Japanese had set a record
with 20 three-pointers in a World Cup game on Friday before France broke it
with 22 on Monday.
Ramu Tokashiki's two free throws drew Japan level at 34-34, but that was as
close as it got. Agnes Studer responded with a 3-pointer to give Hungary a
37-34 lead at halftime.
"They hit their open shots, we missed our open shots," Japan coach Corey Gaines
said.
Hungary finished 11 of 25 from beyond the arc on the first of two days off for
the U.S., which qualified directly for the quarterfinals as a group winner.
"I'm excited to play the very best players in the world, the best team in the
word," Lelik said of Thursday's game. "I never got the opportunity to play
against them. So I'm just very excited how it's going to be. And we're going to
do everything for sure. But besides that, I want us to enjoy the game."
Still two places up for grabs
All the quarterfinals are scheduled for Thursday. Spain and France await the
winners of Wednesday's playoffs between Italy-Australia and China-Puerto Rico,
respectively.
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