Double towers power China past South Korea at FIBA Women's Asia Cup

Han Xu and Zhang Ziyu combined for 36 points to lead defending champions China to a 91-69 victory over South Korea in a Group B game at the FIBA Women's Asia Cup in Shenzhen, south China's Guangdong Province, on Tuesday.

Both teams struggled to find their rhythm offensively in the first half. China missed several early chances under the rim, with Li Yuan, Luo Xinyu and Han all misfiring in the paint. South Korea also failed to capitalize on multiple wide-open opportunities, and the game remained scoreless for nearly two minutes before Park Ji-hyun broke the drought with a basket.

With the Chinese squad slow to settle, 23-year-old forward Luo stepped up with several key offensive rebounds and flashy dishes. Eighteen-year-old Zhang, who stands 226cm tall, entered midway through the first quarter and remained a dominant presence in the paint, although South Korea targeted her lack of mobility on offense. An He-ji nailed a stunning long-range buzzer-beater to cut China's lead to just three points at the end of the first period.

In the second quarter, South Korea suffered a scare when veteran center Park Ji-su sustained a shoulder injury while defending Zhang. She was forced to the bench but returned for the second half after treatment.

China made a crucial tactical adjustment after the break, unveiling the double-tower lineup of Han and Zhang for the first time at the tournament. The move paid immediate dividends, as the two centers scored in quick succession to extend China's lead to double digits. South Korea kept the margin within striking distance thanks to a flurry of three-pointers, hovering around a 10-point gap.

In the final three minutes of the third quarter, China switched to a small-ball lineup with no traditional center. The pace picked up, and sharp drives by Jia Saiqi and Wang Siyu helped China take a 17-point cushion into the final quarter.

China's shooting behind the arc, which had been cold through the first three quarters, finally warmed up in the fourth. Huang Sijing, Yang Liwei and Zhai Ruoyun knocked down timely triples, stretching the lead. Meanwhile, South Korea struggled with fatigue down the stretch, and several smart cuts failed to produce points.

As the clock ran out, China secured victory to remain unbeaten during the group stage.

Han and Zhang each scored a team-high 18 points for China, with Han also grabbing a game-high 12 rebounds. For South Korea, Choi I-saem hit four three-pointers to lead her team with 16 points, while An He-ji added 15.