JPN/ESP - Spain overcome Japan to finish ninth in Russia
VIDNOJE (FIBA U21 World Championship for Women) - Asami Yoshida exploded for 31 points but it wasn’t enough for Japan to beat Spain in the battle for ninth place at the FIBA U21 World Championship for Women. Blanca Marcos poured in 22 points and Anna Cruz weighed in with 17 as the Spanish prevailed 80-70. Yoshida, at least offensively, showed ...
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VIDNOJE (FIBA U21 World Championship for Women) - Asami Yoshida exploded for 31 points but it wasn’t enough for Japan to beat Spain in the battle for ninth place at the FIBA U21 World Championship for Women.
Blanca Marcos poured in 22 points and Anna Cruz weighed in with 17 as the Spanish prevailed 80-70.
Yoshida, at least offensively, showed she has a bright future by making five of nine (55.5%) shots from three-point range and four of eight (50%) inside the arc.
Only one other player reached double figures in points for the Japanese however, and that was Saori Fujiyoshi with 12.
The Japanese stormed out to a 10-2 advantage and maintained a lead midway through the second quarter at 27-24 after a Kozue Tanaka three-ball.
The momentum then shifted to Spain.
Iciar German buried a jump shot and then Veronica Compan drilled a three-pointer for a 31-27 lead.
Those baskets, in fact, started a 15-0 run and left the European team with a 39-27 advantage.
Japan were reeling, but cut the deficit to 39-32 at the start of the third quarter with an Akino Nakagawa jumper.
A Marcos three-ball then sparked another 10-0 surge for the Spanish and propelled them to victory.
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