体坛英语新闻：China enters knockout stage at Women's Basketball Asian Cup as group leader

BEBGALURU, India, July 25 (Xinhua) -- China defeated the Democratic People's Republic of Korea (DPRK) 110-53, entering the knockout stage as the winner of Group A at the Women's Basketball Asian Cup here on Tuesday.

Team China had a 9-0 run at the beginning of the game. Its opponents pulled some points back, but they had trouble in scoring inside over the taller Chinese frontline. China led 23-7 in the first quarter.

Compared with team China, the DPRK players lag behind in both heights and strengths. China's center Li Yueru got 19 points and 7 rebounds in the first half, helping China enlarge its advantage to 26 points at the half break.

In the second half, DPRK players could only score under one-on-one situations. Once China shifted its tactics to group defense, DPRK only finished its attack either with a turnover or a missing shot.

Li Meng's buzzer beater locked the score to 110-53, making the Philippines the team for China to beat in the quarterfinal.

Li Yueru did not hold anything back in the game, making 33 points and 11 rebounds. Huang Sijing contributed 12 points and 10 rebounds for China. Veteran Zhao Shuang got 8 points and 4 rebounds, adding 6 assists and 3 steals.

In the other three games on Tuesday, New Zealand defeated Chinese Taipei 59-53, Japan lost to Australia 83-74, South Korea smashed the Philippines 91-63.

According to the schedule, China will likely face its old rival Japan in the semifinal.

Japan ever beat China 85-50 in the final of the 2015 FIBA Asia Women's Championship.