This article first appeared on SportsLook, JAPAN Forward’s dedicated sports website.
France cruised past Japan 67-53 in a 2022 FIBA Women’s Basketball World Cup group phase game on Monday, September 26, avenging a pair of losses to the host of the Tokyo Olympics.
Gabby Williams paced world No. 6 France with 16 points and Iliana Rupert added a double-double (15 points, 12 rebounds) in the Group B game in Sydney. Teammates Mamignan Toure and Marine Fauthoux chipped in with 13 and 10 points, respectively.
Eighth-ranked Japan, which trailed 16-5 after the opening quarter, lost its third consecutive group phase contest, falling to 1-3 at the 12-nation World Cup, which concludes on Saturday, October 1. The United States, the three-time reigning Olympic and three-time defending world champion, is the top team in Group A.
Coach Toru Onzuka‘s squad takes on tourney host and world No. 3 Australia on Tuesday, September 27 in its final group game, seeking to end its losing streak.
Saori Miyazaki had a team-high 13 points for Akatsuki Japan, which made 21 of 59 shots from the field. Aika Hirashita and Himawari Akaho scored nine points apiece. Maki Takada pulled down nine rebounds.
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Author: Ed Odeven
Follow Ed on JAPAN Forward's [Japan Sports Notebook] here on Sundays, in [Odds and Evens] here during the week, and Twitter ＠ed_odeven, and find him on JAPAN Forward’s dedicated sports website, SportsLook.
