A stunning 20-2 run in the third quarter helped China win over South Korea 80-52 in the FIBA Women's Asia Cup in Bangalore, India on Saturday night. They will face three-time winners and defending champions Japan in the final.
Yang Liwei started the game strong by scoring 13 points in the first quarter, including three 3-pointers, helping China take a 25-18 lead.
South Korea cut a 12-point deficit to four in the second, but Han Xu stopped the rally with a couple of jump shots that ensured China took a 43-31 advantage heading into the second half.
China set the tone when they showed a terrific defensive performance, taking charge of the third quarter with a 20-2 run that turned the game into a 63-33 cushion. Both teams cleared their benches a couple of minutes after that.
Han Xu got 17 points and 3 blocks, while her teammate Yang Liwei added 16 points for China.
China's Li Yuan leaps to pass the ball as South Korea's Hyeyoon Bae blocks her during their FIBA Women's Asia Cup basketball match in Bangalore, India, September 28, 2019. /VCG Photo
In another semi-finals match, Australia once pushed their lead out to 12 over Japan in the first quarter. Ahead 23-15 to begin the second, Australia's shooting froze, allowing Japan to make a 11-0 run to outscore 35-28 into the halftime break.
Nako Motohashi's 3-pointer gave Japan their biggest lead at 43-32 before Australia got within four on a 9-2 run, capped off by Bec Allen's layup.
Japan used three consecutive shots from beyond the arc from Yuki Miyazawa to stop Australia's resurgent offensive, and they needed only one driving layup in the final two minutes to close out the win 76-64.
Nako Motohashi collected a game-high 22 points for Japan, followed by Yuki Miyazawa, who added a double-double with 19 points and 15 rebounds.