Yelena Leuchanka scored 17 points and Yuliya Dureika added 15 to help Belarus upset top-seeded Russia 70-53 Friday in the quarter-finals of the women’s basketball world championship.
The team from the former Soviet Republic advanced to a semi-final against the Czech Republic yesterday.
Becky Hammon scored 16 points and Svetlana Abrosimova added 14 to lead Russia (6-1).
Trailing by six at the half, Russia scored the first six points of the third quarter on a three-pointer by Abrosimova, who plays for WNBA champion Seattle Storm, and a nifty three-point play by Hammon of the San Antonio Silver Stars.
Then Dureika took over, hitting back-to-back threes and a layup to make it 44-33.
Olga Arteshenka made a layup to cut the deficit to nine, but the Belorussians (4-3) scored the next 10 points to put the game away.
US 106, South Korea 44
Angel McCoughtry scored 17 points to help the US rout South Korea and advance to the semi-finals.
Maya Moore added 15 points, Candice Dupree 12 and Swin Cash 11 for the US (7-0), which had six players in double figures en route to one of the most lopsided victories in worlds history. The US, which made it to the medal round for the ninth straight time, will take on Spain.
The US scored 19 of the first 25 points to put the game away early. Lim Yung Hui had 10 points to lead South Korea (3-4), which advanced to the quarter-finals by finishing fourth in its group.
Czech Republic 79, Australia 68
Eva Viteckova scored 27 points to help the Czech Republic knock off defending champion Australia.
The host nation was to face Belarus in one semi-final yesterday.
Leading 52-51, the Czechs opened the final quarter with a 11-2 run. Hana Horakova hit back-to-back threes and Viteckova capped the spurt with a three-pointer that gave them a 63-53 lead.
Australia tried to mount a comeback, but could only get within six in the final two minutes.
When the final buzzer sounded, the Czech players piled onto each other underneath the basket to celebrate, while the 5,000-plus fans proudly waved their red-and-white flags and tooted their vuvuzelas.
Spain 74, France 71, OT
Amaya Valdemoro scored 28 points and Anna Montanana added 14 to lead Spain over France.
Spain was to face the US in a semi-final yesterday, but could be missing star center Sancho Lyttle, who injured her back against France. Coach Jose Hernandez said it was doubtful she would play against the US.
Alba Torrens scored the first four points of the extra period before France went on a 6-0 run to take a 71-69 lead on Emmeline Ndongue’s two free throws with one minute, 30 seconds left in overtime.
Lima then hit a free throw and a layup after a nifty pass from Torrens with 38 seconds left to give Spain a 72-71 lead.
France turned the ball over on its next possession and Montanana sealed the win hitting two free throws with six seconds left.
Valdemoro hit a layup just before the buzzer to send the game into overtime.
Classification Games:
‧ Japan 63, Greece 59
‧ Brazil 64, Canada 58
Shohei Ohtani and his wife arrived in South Korea with his Los Angeles Dodgers teammates yesterday ahead of their season-opening games with the San Diego Padres next week. Ohtani, wearing a black training suit and a cap backwards, was the first Dodgers player who showed up at the arrival gate of Incheon International Airport, west of Seoul. His wife, Mamiko Tanaka, walked several steps behind him. As a crowd of fans, many wearing Dodgers jerseys, shouted his name and cheered slogans, Ohtani briefly waved his hand, but did not say anything before he entered a limousine bus with his wife. Fans held placards
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