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09/10 12:31 CDT Host Germany beats Belgium 93-74 to storm into women's FIBA
World Cup semifinals, France awaits
Host Germany beats Belgium 93-74 to storm into women's FIBA World Cup
semifinals, France awaits
By CIARAN FAHEY
AP Sports Writer
BERLIN (AP) --- Buoyed by ecstatic home fans, host Germany upset Belgium 93-74
to reach the semifinals of the women's FIBA World Cup on Thursday.
Leonie Fiebich scored 17 points and had 10 rebounds to lead Germany to a
showdown with France on Saturday. Nyara Sabally also had a double-double with
16 points and 12 rebounds.
It's the sixth straight World Cup at which the host has made the final four
since China failed to make the semifinals in 2002.
Egged on by fervent commentary from the venue announcer, fans cheered, jumped
and waved Germany flags at the Berlin Arena to help the home team keep its
momentum going after it lost its opening game by 30 points to Spain.
Germany bounced back with impressive wins over Japan and Mali before routing
South Korea in a playoff to reach the quarterfinals.
Belgium, the European champion, was one of three teams that advanced through
group play without a loss.
France impresses Marine Johanns and Janelle Salan led France to the semifinals for the first time by beating China 90-61 earlier. Both Johanns and Salan scored 15 points while Gabby Williams contributed 14 as the Olympic finalists put themselves in contention for a first World Cup medal since the inaugural tournament in 1953, when France finished third in the final round. "It means a lot," Williams said of reaching the semifinals for the first time. "We want to be one of the greatest teams ever to put on the French jersey. Obviously we have a big goal this tournament, but it's great to check this off the list." Chants of "Allez les Bleues" rang around the Berlin Arena before Williams opened the scoring, and the French supporters made sure they were heard for the rest of the game as their team dominated on the court below. France has been fluid and free-scoring, beating its four opponents so far by a combined 156 points. The team set a tournament record for 3-pointers in a single game by netting 22 in its final group game on Monday. The French players connected on 14 of 37 attempts Thursday, with Johanns and Salan scoring three triples each. "We are lucky because we are a group that have known each other for a couple of years now," Salan said of France's team spirit. "We went through a lot of things, the Olympics, training camp(s), so we just know each other and we know what we want. We have a goal and we want to do everything to get to this goal." Salan had an ice pack bound to her right knee. France coach Jean Aime Toupane told The Associated Press it was just a precaution.
Zhang's impact limited The French defense limited the impact of China's 7-foot-3 Zhang Ziyu, who had the attention of two French players any time she received the ball. The 19-year-old sensation was held scoreless over her 7 minutes, 18 seconds of play in the first half, though she contributed in defense with three blocks before halftime. There was nothing Zhang could do to stop Johanns from scoring successive 3-pointers in the third quarter, when she also got on the scoreboard. Zhang finished the game with seven points, eight rebounds and seven turnovers. Han Xu, who had a double-double in each of her four games at the tournament, again led China with 21 points and nine rebounds.
US never in danger The United States, the four-time defending champion, routed Hungary 108-56 in the first quarterfinal with Napheesa Collier scoring 19 points to stretch their winning run in the tournament to 34 games since a semifinal loss to Russia in the 2006 semifinals. The U.S. awaits the winner of Spain-Australia in the last quarterfinal later.
__ See AP's full WNBA coverage here
France impresses Marine Johanns and Janelle Salan led France to the semifinals for the first time by beating China 90-61 earlier. Both Johanns and Salan scored 15 points while Gabby Williams contributed 14 as the Olympic finalists put themselves in contention for a first World Cup medal since the inaugural tournament in 1953, when France finished third in the final round. "It means a lot," Williams said of reaching the semifinals for the first time. "We want to be one of the greatest teams ever to put on the French jersey. Obviously we have a big goal this tournament, but it's great to check this off the list." Chants of "Allez les Bleues" rang around the Berlin Arena before Williams opened the scoring, and the French supporters made sure they were heard for the rest of the game as their team dominated on the court below. France has been fluid and free-scoring, beating its four opponents so far by a combined 156 points. The team set a tournament record for 3-pointers in a single game by netting 22 in its final group game on Monday. The French players connected on 14 of 37 attempts Thursday, with Johanns and Salan scoring three triples each. "We are lucky because we are a group that have known each other for a couple of years now," Salan said of France's team spirit. "We went through a lot of things, the Olympics, training camp(s), so we just know each other and we know what we want. We have a goal and we want to do everything to get to this goal." Salan had an ice pack bound to her right knee. France coach Jean Aime Toupane told The Associated Press it was just a precaution.
Zhang's impact limited The French defense limited the impact of China's 7-foot-3 Zhang Ziyu, who had the attention of two French players any time she received the ball. The 19-year-old sensation was held scoreless over her 7 minutes, 18 seconds of play in the first half, though she contributed in defense with three blocks before halftime. There was nothing Zhang could do to stop Johanns from scoring successive 3-pointers in the third quarter, when she also got on the scoreboard. Zhang finished the game with seven points, eight rebounds and seven turnovers. Han Xu, who had a double-double in each of her four games at the tournament, again led China with 21 points and nine rebounds.
US never in danger The United States, the four-time defending champion, routed Hungary 108-56 in the first quarterfinal with Napheesa Collier scoring 19 points to stretch their winning run in the tournament to 34 games since a semifinal loss to Russia in the 2006 semifinals. The U.S. awaits the winner of Spain-Australia in the last quarterfinal later.
__ See AP's full WNBA coverage here
