China's women's basketball team rallied to hold off Australia
64-59 on Thursday in the first game of a two-part warm-up
series.
Miao Lijie was among the veterans sent on court after the start
of the first quarter, part of Tom Maher's plan of rotating the
line-up.
With the joint contributions of Miao Lijie and Chen Xiaoli,
China surged to a 7-0 lead in the opening quarter. But a loose
defense eclipsed their effort to widen the advantage, while the
Aussies, thanks to an outstanding display of three-pointers, caught
up and reversed the lead to 13-25 by the end of the period.
China put its strongest group of five on the court in the second
quarter as the team strived to step up its offense and tighten its
grip on rebounds. The home side rode home on a 32-30 lead before
half time.
The two sides traded offensives in the third period but a lack
of patience cost both of them opportunities to pull ahead.
China went on to a narrow 49-47 lead as the game entered the
fourth quarter. Ren Lei sunk two free-throws at the four minute
forty mark to help China to a 59-56 lead.
The visitors, Australia, lost their last chance to shorten the
gap after failing to score two free-throws one minute before the
final buzzer.
The second game will take place on Saturday.
(CRI.cn July 20, 2007)
