Japan beats France 74-70 in Olympic women s basketball japantoday.com - get the latest breaking news, showbiz & celebrity photos, sport news & rumours, viral videos and top stories from japantoday.com Daily Mail and Mail on Sunday newspapers.
Japan women beat France 74-70 in their Olympic hoops opener
July 27, 2021 GMT
SAITAMA, Japan (AP) Saki Hayashi scored 12 points and Moeko Nagaoka added 11 to help Japan beat France 74-70 on Tuesday in the Olympic opener for both teams.
It was a tight game throughout and Japan led 52-49 after three quarters before France quickly tied it at 55 with 6:48 left. The teams then exchanged leads over the next few minutes.
Maki Takada’s three-point play with 1:15 left gave Japan a 69-68 lead. Gabby Williams missed a 3-pointer from the top of the key for France, then Nagaoka hit a 3 from the wing with 28.2 seconds left to make it a four-point game.
France’s Gabrielle Williams (15) is fouled by Japan’s Evelyn Mawuli (30) during women’s basketball preliminary round game at the 2020 Summer Olympics on July 27 in Saitama, Japan. (AP Photo)
SAITAMA Japan overcame France 74-70 with a tenacious defensive display and ruthless three-point shooting to take their first game of the Tokyo Olympics women’s basketball tournament on Tuesday.
France struggled to get into their offence as the hosts looked to trap their ball handlers with double and triple teams, while Japan capitalized on French defensive lapses by knocking down a series of clutch three-pointers in the final frame.
The French briefly took the lead after a run in the fourth quarter before a back-and-forth final few minutes, until Moeko Nagaoka sank a dagger three-pointer with 29 seconds left to put Japan up 72-68.
Japan s women s basketball team off to flying start with 72-68 win over France japantimes.co.jp - get the latest breaking news, showbiz & celebrity photos, sport news & rumours, viral videos and top stories from japantimes.co.jp Daily Mail and Mail on Sunday newspapers.