China wins Sino-Australian Challenge Game Two

2009-05-18 08:43 BJT

ANSHAN, Northeast China, May 17 (Xinhua) -- China took a successful revenge on Australia Sunday as the new-look women's national basketball team won 90-84 in the second game of Sino-Australian Challeng.

Bian Lan, who was the starter of the fourth finisher China in the Beijing Olympics, scored a game-high 27 points and added four assists.

The hosts never looked back after a 2-2 tie and built a 10-point lead in the first half before extended the advantage to 13 points midway the third quarter.

The Australians fought back with a 11-4 spur to trim the gap to 70-71 with six minutes left in the game. But Bilan's consecutive six points put the Chinese up again.

It was not enough, however, for China and the visitors made another big run to close the game 82-84. Then Ma Zengyu's rebound and two free-throws and 3-pointers made her team safety.

Ma Zengyu came off the bench to score 13 points. Her teammate Chen Xiaojia, a point guard, also added 13 points, including two 3-pointers.

"We were very prepared offensively and defensively," Chinese head coach Sun Fengwu said. "We did well in rebounds and offense, which was key to today's victory."

China rebounded 30, 13 from offensive, to Australia's 20, and got 30 points through 38 free-throws, compared with Australia's nine of nine.

Abby Bishop led Australia with 15 points, Kathleen Macleod had 14 and Elizabeth Cambage added 13 and 9 rebounds.

"We lost too many recounds and trailed too much in the first half," said Australian coach Carrie Graf. "That's impossible for us to win the game against a strong team like China, though they are not same as the Olympics, but have a good future."

Australia only recounded nine to China's 22 in the first half.

The Sino-Australian Challenge, which serves as China's warm-up for the upcoming Asian Championship, will finish the series on Tuesday in Fuxing, Liaoning Province.

Editor: Zheng Limin | Source: Xinhua