Belarus Slides Into The Quarterfinals After Securing Win Over China Taipei

Belarus 81 - China Taipei 65

Belarus players began the game in a nervous way, missing clear shots while they tried to make a run on China Taipei but that slow shooting from both teams made the score move slowly. Finally  China Taipei got ahead with 2:38 remaining, 10-8, keeping their noses in front until the end of the quarter but only a point over Belarus,13-14.

Belarus put themselves in front in the beginning of the second with a 2+1 play from Anastasiya Verameyenka, 16-14, closing a 6-0 run that abridged the final minutes of the first and the beginning of the fourth, and they didn't look back again. There weren’t big runs in the quarter but Belarus slowly increased their lead, reaching a maximum 8 point lead after a laying from Yelena Leuchanka for the 31-23 with 3:13 for the break, finishing the second 33-27 ahead

After the break Belarus still rushed some offense possessions and turn some balls over remaining tour minutes scoreless. Japan took advantage of that and made a 7-0 run to close the gap to five points, 44-39, with 2:49 remaining in the third. Then Belarus reacted and made a 7-0 run closed by a three pointer from Nataliya Trafimava that gave them a first double digit lead in the game, 51-39, with 1:23 remaining. Wei Chuan Chien cut the drought for China Taipei from the perimeter making it 51-42 with only 32 seconds in the third, closing the quarter Natalia Marchanka with a driving layup to make it 53-42.

China Taipei’s Feng Chung Chiang begin the fourth with back-to-back three pointers thar put her team 53-48 but they won’t get no closer. After a few minutes of trading baskets Belarus finally found her best game and increased their lead to double digits again. China Taipei tried to comeback over and over again but all their efforts found an answer from Belarus, who could finally push their lead up to the final 81-65 after tour straight points in the last minute from the free throw line from Yelena Leuchanka.  

Belarus had two players in double doubles; Anastasiya Verayemenka, 12 pts and 10 boards and Yelena Leuchanka 13 points and 11 rebounds, as well as they had three more players scoring double figures in scoring; Tatyana Troina and Olga Masilionene added 13 pts apiece, and Nataliya Trafimava had 11 pts and 8 boards.

For China Taipei Wei Chuan Chien scored 22 pts and Feng Chung Chiang added 17

Bielorrusia grabbed 50 boards to China Taipei’s 30

BOX SCORE

BELARUS: Padabed 9, Masilionene 13, Snytsina 2, Verameyenka 12, Leuchanka 13, Marchanka 8, Troina 13,Trafimava 11

CHINA TAIPEI: Chien 22, Chiang 17, When 4, Lin 9, Tsai 3, Cheng 8, Ma 2