Mondelo enthused by "perfect" execution of tactics heading into Semi-Finals

ISTANBUL (FIBA World Championship for Women) - Spain coach Lucas Mondelo had nothing but praise for his team after their comprehensive 71-55 Quarter-Final win over China on Friday at the 2014 FIBA World Championship for Women.

"I am very happy with the perfect execution of our tactics, especially on defense," said the 47-year-old play-caller.

"We came prepared to counter three different situations on defense that we had to control. Two on the perimeter and one in the paint."

"We did our execution really good. We controlled the pace. As a result, we moved fluently and we could get easy baskets.

I am really proud of my team. I think we can be a big challenge for any team in the Semi-Finals. - Mondelo

Sancho Lyttle, who entered the game as Spain's leading scorer, breathed fire and registered a personal tournament-high 24 points.

"We came out knowing that China came back from behind against Belarus and they can put three-point shots whenever they wanted to," said the Galatasaray Odeabank power forward.

"I wanted to keep the score a little bit so if they came back we wouldn't start panicking," she said on her scoring 10 of her points in the first quarter.

Looking ahead to Saturday and the prospects of playing hosts Turkey, Lyttle quipped: "Let them first win (their Quarter-Final against Serbia)" before adding: "Any team will be a tough proposition. We are talking about the Semi-Finals of the World Championship."

"This is the highest level of our sport. There are no easy games."

FIBA