CHN/NZL – Chen dominates as China defeat Tall Ferns

BEIJING (Olympics) – Chen Nan erupted for her biggest game of the tournament with 26 points and 17 rebounds as China beat New Zealand 80-73.

Chen, the 1.95m center, scored 18 of her points and grabbed 10 of her boards in the first half when the Chinese, coached by former New Zealand boss Tom Maher, went in front by 18 before going to half-time with a 48-31 stranglehold on the game.

China out-rebounded New Zealand 46-29.

"I just know that they intended to beat us but we have more talent,” Maher said.

“We play together and we never quit. We should have won the game and we did. We took care of business and I'm happy at it.”

The win means China have improved to 2-1 and moved back into second place above Spain (also 2-1), a team they beat on opening day, in Group B.

The Tall Ferns, who have dropped two straight since beginning the tournament with a victory over Mali, know they must now upset the Czech Republic on Friday if they are to keep alive their hopes of reaching the quarter-finals.

Their last game is against one of the gold-medal favourites, the United States, and few people will give the New Zealanders chance of even keeping the clash close against the Americans.

Jillian Harmon and Angela Marino, who played for Maher in 2004 when he engineered their run to the quarter-finals of the Athens Games, each had 14 points for New Zealand.

Maher, an Australian, has loved his time with the China national team but he admits that he often he has a hard time interpreting the mood in the locker room, even after wins.

When asked if the confidence in the Chinese players was growing, he said: "It's hard for me to judge that. It's not as easy for me to judge the mentality of our locker room to an Australian locker room.

“I just don't know. I think it is sinking in that we are 2-1 and if we can make it 3-1, that sounds better."

Next up is a game against Mali, a team that gave the Chinese fits for three quarters at the FIBA Diamond Ball in Haining not long ago.

"The reality is we have a shot,” Maher said.

“Now we have Mali. We are considerably more tired than Mali.

"We played them one week ago and we beat them. We should win that game. Their rebounding was awesome against us. "

So how far can the Chinese women go in Beijing?

"If we get a good draw,” Maher said, “and we can pull an upset, well, there's a medal.

"It's not unrealistic."

FIBA