Rio 2016 WBB Day One Recap

The Opening Ceremony is complete. The Games have began, and gold, silver, and bronze medals are being competed for.

Turkey vs. France

The women’s basketball slate of the Olympics began Saturday with four games—the first being Turkey vs. France. This was a matchup where as the game went longer, France got stronger. Group play commenced with France topping Turkey by a final of 55-39 at the Youth Arena.

This one actually started in auspicious fashion for Turkey as they were leading 16-8 after one quarter before France pulled ahead by three to take a 22-19 lead into halftime.

As the game concluded, France held Turkey to only four points in the fourth quarter en route to the win.

Sarah Michel and Endy Miyem finished with 14 points each, combining for nearly half of the overall French point output. Isabelle Yacoubou provided plenty pf possession opportunities for France with 11 rebounds.

On the Turkey side, Nevriye Yilmaz had 16 points and Birsel Demirmen Vardarli added 10.

Canada vs. China

After Turkey and France were finished, it was time for Canada and China to take center stage. If you are a fan of the Chinese women’s basketball team, you may want to forget this game even took place.

But if you are a Canuck, it was a great day. Canada blew out China, 90-68. Team Canada was spearheaded by a 20-point outing from Tamara Tatham, who played just under 24 minutes. They also shot 50 percent from the field.

That will win you a lot of games, but shooting under 40 percent when your opponents are putting one out of every two shots through the basket will cause problems. That is what happened to China, who were 38 percent from the field.

Nan Chen scored 13 points and Xiaojia Chen had 12.

Australia vs. Brazil

Then came Australia as they faced the host country for these Olympics, Brazil who was, of course, playing before a raucous and enthusiastic pro-Brazil crowd.

That crowd draped in the Brazilian colors made a big difference early on as Brazil raced out to an early 24-14 advantage after one quarter.

But, as similar to what happened in the game between Turkey and France, as the game wore on, one could identify that the better team in the first quarter may not be the winner when the clock hit the triple-zeroes. In the end, it would be the Opals prevailing over Brazil by a final of 84-66.

Liz Cambage began her 2016 Olympics with 20 points and 14 rebounds while Leilani Mitchell added 18 of her own to go along with her six assists. Australia also got 17 points from Penny Taylor.

Brazil was led by 25 points courtesy of Iziane Castro, who scored 12 of her 25 in the first quarter when her team led by 10 at the conclusion of said quarter. Damiris Dantas also added 11. Both Clarissa dos Santos (eight) and Erika de Souza (three) were held under ten points for the game.

Belarus vs. Japan

Saturday’s slate of matchups concluded with Belarus and Japan, which was a nail-biter from start to finish. It would be Japan who would start its Rio 2016 with a victory, 77-73 over Belarus.

On a pair of occasions late in the fourth quarter, Asami Yoshida was sent to the free throw line to shoot a pair of shots. She made all four to lift her team and country to the win.

Belarus did not have much of an answer for Mika Kurihara and her 20 points. Ramu Tokashiki did not make things much easier for Belarus either, adding 16 points to a winning Japan effort. Both played at least 34 minutes.

Belarus did have several players who finished with double-digits in points—including Yelena Leuchanka with 15, Katsiaryna Snytsina with 14, and Lindsey Harding with 12. Belarus was hurt by 17 turnovers to only nine for Japan.

The next day…

We’re only getting started in Rio! There’s another set of four more games tomorrow including…