Nirra Fields scored 17 points and Shay Colley added 11 to lead Canada to a 59-45 win over France at the Women’s Basketball World Cup on Friday.
This victory allowed Canada (2-0) to remain the only undefeated team in its group.
“It’s great for us,” said Canadian guard Kia Nurse. “Great momentum to continue. The first match against Serbia showed what we are capable of, a great team victory. To do this again with everyone’s contribution is huge.”
In other games Friday, the United States beat Puerto Rico 106-42; China dominated Bosnia and Herzegovina 98-51; Serbia beat Japan 69-64 and Belgium beat South Korea 84-61. Australia beat Mali 118-58.
Canada led 20-17 with three minutes remaining in the second quarter before going on a 17-0 halftime run to take control of the game. Colley scored the last six points of that streak.
The French trailed by 20 to start the fourth quarter, but used a 10-1 run to get closer to 11, failing to close the gap further.
Gabby Williams, who scored 23 points in the opening win over Australia, finished with 13 points to lead the French offense.
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USA 106, PUERTO RICO 42
Shakira Austin scored 19 points, Kahleah Copper added 16 and USA applied a stifling defense to dominate Puerto Rico.
Alyssa Thomas contributed 11 points and six steals for the Americans (2-0), which forced Puerto Rico to commit 21 turnovers.
Mya Hollingshed led Puerto Rico in scoring (1-1) with 10 points.
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SERBIA 69, JAPAN 64
Jovana Nogic scored 13 points to lead a five-man Serbia offense into double figures in the win over Japan.
Yvonne Anderson and Kristina Topuzovic each added 12 points for Serbia (1-1), who used a 24-9 first quarter to take an early lead over Olympic silver medalists in Tokyo.
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AUSTRALIA 118, MALI 58
Ezi Magbegor scored 15 points to lead seven in double figures for Australia as they beat Mali.
The African nation took a 10-2 lead before coach Sandy Brondello added Lauren Jackson to Australia’s 1-1 formation. The Aussies scored the next 17 points, including five from Jackson, to start a game-opening 33-2 run.
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CHINA 98, BOSNIA AND HERZEGOVINA 51
Han Xu scored 18 points and Li Meng added 17 to help China stay unbeaten with a victory over Bosnia and Herzegovina.
The Chinese team beat Bosnia and Herzegovina 48-20 in the second half.
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BELGIUM 84, SOUTH KOREA 61
Hind Ben Abdelkader scored 17 points and Julie Vanloo added 14 to help Belgium claim their first win of the tournament, beating South Korea.
Julie Allemand had 13 points and eight assists for Belgium (1-1), which lost to the United States in their opener.
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