Oh, how much can change in the span of 24 hours.
Nearly every game save for Latvia vs. China the first day of group stage at the FIBA World Cup appeared to be a classic case of teams being outmatched.
On the second day, the teams that were facing each other appeared to be more evenly matched. This included when Team USA faced a tough test against a Chinese team they beat handily at the Olympics in Rio de Janeiro.
It was not the dominating victory they scored against China in Brazil, but the USA remained in the ranks of the unbeaten thanks to a 100-88 victory in their second game in group play.
Of course, the USA would not be alone among those unblemished.
Argentina vs. Australia
On the heels of Australia opening the FIBA World Cup with a bang – an 86-68 win over Nigeria in which Liz Cambage went for 34 points, a much-circulated question was what would the Opals do for an encore.
The answer to that vexing question was nearly doubling up on a now 0-2 Argentina team as Australia thrashed them by a final of 84-43.
The Opals achieved this blowout in large part thanks to two players known by many followers of the W. Cambage added 24 points more to her output and Sami Whitcomb, fresh off helping the Seattle Storm to a WNBA championship, had 16 points and five assists off the bench.
Thanks to Cambage and Whitcomb, Australia outdid Argentina in points in the paint (44-12) and points off the bench (48-18).
Ezi Magbegbor went for 14 points and eight rebounds while Alanna Smith finished with 10 points.
The only player for Argentina in double-digits for points with Macarena Rosset, who finished with 13.
Canada vs. Korea
Speaking of lopsided results…Team USA is apparently not the only team from North America that can rout opponents.
A 2-0 start in the tournament can be important as it allows a team to build some momentum early. Among those teams that began the 2018 FIBA World Cup with two wins are the USA, Australia, and Canada which defeated Korea with the final being 82-63.
A good portion of this game was decided in the second quarter, when Canada outscored Korea 27-14. Outside of the second quarter, the game could be considered “close.”
But Kia Nurse, leading all scorers with 29 points (along with four assists) made sure this one would not be close. Miranda Ayim provided 13 points and six rebounds off the bench and Miah-Marie Langlois added six rebounds and six assists.
Korea was once again led by Ji-Su Park, who scored 23 points and also hauled in nine rebounds. She did, however commit more than half (eight) of Korea’s turnovers (14). Leesul Kang scored 17 off Korea’s bench.
Belgium vs. Japan
It was when tip-off of Belgium vs. Japan took place that the games really began to get more competitive.
It was also when Belgium vs. Japan took place that we were treated to our first overtime contest of this FIBA World Cup.
This one, of course, could have gone either way, but will be in the books as a 77-75 overtime victory for Japan over Belgium.
With just over a minute to play in the fourth quarter, Evelyn Mawuli drained a three-point shot to tie the game up at 68. Belgium would eventually have the final possession of regulation, but Kim Mestdagh’s attempt at a two-point game-winner would not connect, sending this one to an extra period.
Both teams were tied at 73 apiece with over two minutes to go as Yuki Miyazawa was true from downtown as she gave Japan a 76-73 advantage. Ann Wauters’ layup made it a 76-75 game before Mestdagh was charged with a foul putting Himawari Akaho at the line.
She made one of two, making it a 77-75 game and Miyazawa later blocked a three-point attempt from Mestdagh. Akaho corralled the ensuing rebound and Japan had sealed victory.
Speaking of free throws, close games always come down to what a team does at the charity stripe. While Belgium may have outrebounded Japan 14-5, Japan shot over 90 percent from the free throw line while Belgium shot a mere 60 percent.
Maki Takada scored 26 points and Miyazawa scored 21. Manami Fujioka also helped out with eight assists. Evelyn Mawuli scored 12 points.
Mestdagh scored 23. Belgium also got 13 each from Julie Allemand and Emma Meesseman, who also pulled down 18 rebounds. Wauters finished with 10.
Senegal vs. Latvia
How do we follow a thriller decided by two points?
Another one decided by only one.
That is what happened with Senegal and Latvia, both of which lost their opening day contests to the USA and China, respectively.
This one did not need overtime, but it did end with Senegal victorious by a final of 70-69.
With under a minute to play, Senegal’s Yacine Diop hit a two-point shot that gave her team a 68-67 advantage. A few seconds later, Aija Brumermane responded off a pass from Elina Dikaioulaku, making it a 69-68 tally.
After a Senegal timeout, Mame Marie Sy-Diop’s two-pointer put her team back in front, 70-69. Dikaioulaku’s three-point attempt would not be successful and Senegal corralled the game-winning board.
Senegal now stands at 1-1 while Latvia falls to 0-2 in its first-ever FIBA World Cup.
Neither team shot well from three. Latvia out-boarded Senegal on the offensive glass, they scored more points off the bench, and was perfect from the free throw line where Senegal shot just over 70 percent. Senegal had more points inside the paint.
Astou Traore scored 19 points and Maimouna Diarra scored 14 along with 11 rebounds. Yacine Diop put in 13 in addition to seven rebounds. Oumoul Khairy Sarr finished her game with 11 points.
Kristine Vitola led Latvia with 14 points and six rebounds. Dikaioulaku had 13 to go along with five assists. Anete Steinberga had an impressive line – 12 points, 15 rebounds, and three steals. Kitija Laksa also contributed 12 points in 23 minutes of play.
France vs. Greece
Put France in among the ranks of the 2-0 teams on the heels of its contest with Greece.
France was in for a more competitive matchup than when they blew out Korea, but they managed a 75-71 victory to remain undefeated in group play.
With under a minute to play, both teams were tied up at 69 apiece before a 6-0 run from France gave the team a 75-69 advantage. Olivia Epoupa was credited with an assist on a Sandrine Gruda two-pointer for a 71-69 lead, then Endene Miyem and Sarah Michel each made a pair of three throws as France went ahead by six.
With a second to play, Evanthia Matsi was awarded three free throw attempts after Epoupa fouled her as she was attempting a shot from behind the arc. She made two of three, but it was academic at that point as France upped its mark for this FIBA World Cup to 2-0.
Ball movement and depth were keys in the France win. They out-assisted Greece 24-14 and outscored Greece’s bench 22-14.
Miyem was the only France player with a double-digit point output as she scored 20. Grude also finished with seven rebounds and Marine Johannes had six assists.
Maltsi kept Greece in the game with 28 points to lead all scorers.
Spain vs. Puerto Rico
All good things had to come to an end…including the string of games at the FIBA World Cup decided by small margins.
Twenty-three is no small margin in basketball terms, and it was the margin of victory for Spain as it upped its record to 2-0 this World Cup by virtue of its 78-53 victory over Puerto Rico.
This one was all Spain all the time, and the theme persisted throughout the game. Spain had a 33-18 lead on Puerto Rico at the half, then outscored them by a margin of 52-18 in the second half.
A game such as this is sure to produce some jarring statistics. Among those – Spain out-assisting Puerto Rico 24-7 and outdoing them off the bench 30-4.
Astou Ndour finished with 22 points and five rebounds. Laura Gil had seven rebounds and Laura Nicholls, Alba Torrens, and Anna Cruz each ended up with six off the glass. Laia Palau also had five assists.
Jennifer O’Neill scored 17 points. Tayra Melendez has 11 along with eight rebounds. Yolanda Jones also grabbed six rebounds.
Nigeria vs. Turkey
The final contest of the second day of group play continued to fit much of the theme of close contests.
Turkey was looking to be part of the list of 2-0 teams while Nigeria was in search of its first win following its defeat to the Opals.
When all was said and done, D’Tigress responded from the Australia loss to earn a 74-68 victory over Turkey.
At halftime, Turkey had built a 32-29 lead, but that lead was cut from eight to three after Turkey opened the contest with a 15-7 advantage after the first quarter. A major difference was the third period when Nigeria outscored Turkey by a mark of 23-10, assuming a 52-42 lead.
Sarah Ogoke led all scorers with 22 points — four three pointers — and Evelyn Akhator contributed 13 points along with 10 rebounds. Aisha Mohammed and Atonye Nyingifa each pulled in seven rebounds and Ezinne Josephine Kalu passed out five assists.
Isil Alben had 15 points for Turkey. Olcay Cakir Turgut and Quanitra Hollingsworth each scored 11 points, the latter of whom also had six rebounds and shot five out of seven from the field. Bahar Caglar scored 10 to go along with five rebounds.
D’Tigress shot over 85 percent from the free throw line while Turkey was just under 64 percent from the stripe. They also managed to get out in transition more effectively, tallying 14 fast break points to only six for Turkey.
