A rampant US yesterday set a new all-time women’s basketball World Cup scoring record with a 145-69 demolition of South Korea, while Belgium, France. China and Australia booking their places in the quarter-finals.
Eight of the US’ 12-strong roster hit doubles figures, led by Brionna Jones with 24 points, eight rebounds and one assist in Sydney.
A’ja Wilson drilled 20 points and Breanna Stewart 18 as the three-time defending champions ran riot, with Shakira Austin netting a field goal with just seconds left to ensure the record.
Photo: AP
It was previously held by Brazil, who crushed Malaysia 143-50 in a group game at the 1990 tournament.
“I don’t think I’ve ever been part of a team that can score the basketball like this,” Wilson said. “This is crazy, we put up 145 points. I think when you look at us and just knowing how talented we are, we just came together and we play together very, very well.”
The previous team record was 119 points against Angola in 2014 and China in 2006. The scoring margin was also the biggest in US history as well surpassing the 75-point win over Angola in 2014.
The win was also the 26th in a row in World Cup play for the US, who have not lost since the 2006 semi-finals when they fell to Russia.
The US also won 26 in a row from 1994 to 2006. The Soviet Union holds the World Cup record with 56 straight wins from 1959 to 1986.
“We got more pressure and I think our size, the number of points we got in the paint was 90 or something. So our size was a problem for them and I thought we shared the ball well,” said US coach Cheryl Reeve, whose team are gunning for an 11th title overall.
The US, who had already qualified for the quarter-finals, were on another level offensively and defensively, passing 30 or more points in all four frames against a South Korean team that has struggled without marquee star Park Ji-su.
Defeat left the Asian side facing a crunch Group A game today against Puerto Rico with a quarter-final slot at stake.
“I try to focus on how we played rather than the result of the game. I wanted our players to show their best ability and confidence on the court,” South Korean coach Jung Sun-min said. “Individually, I think we played very hard and very well today.”
Point guard Hind Ben Abdelkader poured in 18 points for Belgium as they ended Bosnia and Herzegovina’s tournament dreams.
Aiming to better their fourth place in 2018, they swept home 85-55 to join the US in the last eight from Group A.
Kyara Linskens and Julie Vanloo both chipped in with 13 points for their third straight win of the 10-day competition after an opening day loss to the US.
Defeat ended any hope the Bosnians had in a hugely disappointing debut tournament, where they leaked 364 points over four consecutive defeats with Belgium successfully blunting the threat posed by dangerwoman Jonquel Jones.
France booked their quarter-final slot with a 67-53 victory over Japan in Group B, while China earned their spot with a Puerto Rico denied China a quarter-final spot with a 95-60 win over Puerto Rico in Group A.
Australia beat Canada 75-72 to advance in the last game of the night. Canada had already qualified.
Meanwhile, Serbia kept their hopes alive in a tough Group B, beating Mali 81-68.
Additional reporting by staff writer, with AP
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