Shao Ting (R) of China competes with Elina Dikaioulaku of Latvia during a Group D match at the 2018 FIBA Women's Basketball World Cup in Santa Cruz de Tenerife, Spain, Sept. 22, 2018. China won 64-61. (Xinhua/Zheng Huansong)
TENERIFE, Spain, Sept. 22 (Xinhua) -- The Chinese women's basketball team started their FIBA World Cup campaign with a 64-61 victory over Latvia in the tournament's opener here on Saturday.
Yang Liwei grabbed the decisive rebound before being fouled by her opponent. She converted both free throws with 2.4 seconds left on the clock to give China a three-point lead.
Captain Shao Ting finished with a team-high 15 points for China. Yang Liwei and Wang Siyu scored 10 points apiece. Adjustments needed to be made early as both teams failed to score several attacks into the match. Li Yueru opened China's scoring.
Following a 7-6 lead, China compiled a double-digit lead through a 10-0 spurt midway through the first quarter, forcing Latvia to take a timeout with 2 minutes and 24 seconds remaining in the opening quarter.
Latvia searched for more body contact inside the paint, and they responded with a 10-0 run kicked off by Aija Putnina's two free throws and extended until the start of the second quarter.
China snapped their slide two minutes into the second period on a pair of free throws from Shao Ting, but their opponents managed to stay in contention as China narrowly led 31-30 at halftime.
Latvia led for the first time since the tip-off at 32-31 on Elina Dikaioulaku's free throws after the interval, and went further ahead as Anete Steinberga scored six points in a row.
At 38-34 down, China made timely adjustments to shore up their defense with promising center Han Xu on the court. Han's free throw sparked another 10-0 run, but Latvia tied the score at 44-all heading into the final 12 minutes. China nailed their triumphant opener through Yang's shots from the free throw line.
Latvia received a game-high 16 points and 11 rebounds from Steinberga. Dikaioulaku added 14.
China will face title favorites the United States in Group D's second round match on Sunday, while Latvia take on Senegal.
After each of the 16 teams plays three preliminary round games at the 2018 FIBA World Cup, the second and third place teams from each of the four preliminary round groups will compete in the quarterfinal qualification games. The top teams from each group will advance directly to the quarterfinals.
