PARIS (France) - Belgium made the most of their unexpected appearance in the Quarter-Finals of the Women's Olympic Basketball Tournament Paris 2024 by producing another blistering display to blast past Spain 79-66.
Backed by another sizeable following of noisy Cats' fans, the victory means they will compete in the Semi-Finals for the first time in only their second ever appearance at the Games.
Turning point
Already up by 11 points at half-time, Belgium opened uo the second half with a 9-2 run to make it 57-39. This meant it looked a long road back for Spain and so it proved as the Cats engaged cruise control.
Game heroes
Frontcourt combo Emma Meesseman and Kyara Linskens were a major force and that was the difference-maker in the contest.
The former came away with 19 points, 9 boards, 6 assists and 4 steals ,while Linskens had 19 points, 8 rebounds and 2 steals.
Stats don't lie
Belgium are tough to live with when they find their range from deep and they made 8 of n16 from downtown.
Bottom Line
Belgium dared to dream they could complete the 'Miracle of Lille' with that 27-point win against Japan to make it to the French capital. Now they are dreaming of a maiden medal. It was another super team effort of great ball movement and energy - the kind that has captured the imagination of their supporters in these past years. They now look capable of pushing on after this latest display.
Spain had some great moments in the first-half and there were few signs of what was to follow as they disintegrated completely either side of half-time. A Quarter-Finals place and exit at this stage was probably what most people had expected heading into the tournament - although the manner of the loss was probably a huge disappointment.
They said
"We are just enjoying it now and that is what everyone sees on the court. We are laughing and having a lot of fun. We already feel a huge difference with all the people that are watching us now because it is the Olympics. It was growing so much after the FIBA Women's EuroBasket and the numbers watching on tv were insane. Now, here at the Olympics I know even moe people are watching us, talking about us. I am sure this inspoires a lot fopeoplke - no aytter if hey do sports or not. Just following that dream because we have shown what is possible." Belgium forward, Emma Meesseman
"We knew that to win we had to play a really great game. We did a very good job defensively for the first three-quarters. We made 28 assists and I like this basketball when my players like to share the ball and play together with a lot of heart." Belgium head coach, Rachid Meziane. "It was a tough tournament. We have to be proud but also know that Belgium played a better game. Their offense was great and they scored a lot but we didn't. I think that they made the most of their open shots. That was a key. Spain never gives up. We will keep working and fighting. We have a lot of big competitions coming up and we will be there and competing for titles. We always have different generations and they always represent Spain the way that they should." Spain forward, Maria Araujo.
Quick notes
- Spain have been eliminated from the Olympic Games at the quarter-final stage more often than any other team, with today their fourth loss in five such games – the Spaniards have been restricted to fewer than 70 points in all five of those games.
- Belgium – who have reached the semi-finals for the first time - hit 50% of their shots from behind the arc in their win over Spain (8/16), their best rate in a match at the Olympic Games. - Emma Meesseman (19pts, 9reb, 6ast) combined 15+ points with 5+ rebounds and 5+ assists for the fourth time at the Olympic Games with Brazil’s Janeth Arcain (6 times) the only player to do so on more occasions in the competition’s history. - Kyara Linskens (19pts 8reb) hit a personal best 19 points at the Olympics in today’s win as well as eight rebounds to follow up her 10 against Japan in the final preliminary round game – the Belgian hit eight field goals against Spain, only two fewer than across her first three appearances at the 2024 games (11). - Megan Gustafson (21pts today) recorded 72 points from her four games at the 2024 Olympic Games in Paris with Amaya Valdemoro the only Spanish player to ever register more points across their first four games in the competition (76 in 2004).
FIBA