Maria Araujo hit a 3-pointer with 3:06 left in extra time as Spain completed off a rally and beat China 90-89 on Sunday to open ladies’s basketball group play on the Paris Olympics with a flourish.
Queralt Casas tossed the ball into the air because the buzzer sounded after Li Yueru scored inside with 4 seconds left for the ultimate margin, then the Spaniards got here collectively for a large hug leaping up and right down to have fun knocking off the world’s No. 2-ranked workforce.
Alba Torrens, Spain’s captain, known as it an “superb victory.”
“We didn’t cease believing, we didn’t cease working, we didn’t cease adjusting,” she mentioned.
Spain had an opportunity to win within the last seconds of regulation. Leonor Rodriguez was knocked to the ground on her tying 3-pointer with 6.5 seconds to go solely to see her free throw rim out leaving the rating tied at 76.
China’s lengthy heave hit the backboard on the buzzer. China performs Serbia on Wednesday.
Spain took the result in begin extra time on a bucket by Megan Gustafson, and Rodriguez had a last likelihood to place the sport away. She missed her first free throw with 13.2 seconds to go, then sank the second to make it 90-87.
Gustafson, the AP ladies’s faculty basketball participant of the 12 months in 2019 from Iowa, led Spain with 29 factors. Rodriguez completed with 25 because the fourth-ranked Spaniards attempt to bounce again after ending sixth on the Tokyo Video games. Spain misplaced to the USA within the last on the 2016 Rio de Janeiro Video games.
Li Yueru had a game-high 31 factors and 15 rebounds. Li Meng added 13 factors.
ALSO READ | Durant conjures up USA in rout of Serbia to launch Olympic defence
Dragana Stankovic blocked Pamela Rosada’s driving layup with 6.3 seconds left, then hit a free throw to protect Serbia’s escape over Puerto Rico.
Serbia got here in tenth simply forward of Puerto Rico on the earth rankings. Serbia regarded like a workforce that debuted profitable bronze in its debut on the 2016 Rio Video games, then making the semifinals three years in the past in Tokyo. A minimum of by three quarters.
Puerto Rico by no means led and trailed 55-36 after three, however by no means stop.
Serbia led 57-52 when officers needed to break up Stankovic and Puerto Rico ahead Mya Hollingshed as they grappled by one another for a rebound with 52.4 seconds left beneath the Serbian basket. Officers went to replay and assessed fouls.
Jacqueline Benitz knocked down three free throws to tug Puerto Rico inside 57-55. Stankovic then missed her two makes an attempt, then Serbia missed two pictures earlier than Puerto Rico obtained possession with 24.3 seconds left.
Stankovic missed her second free throw, ending with a team-high 15 factors. Puerto Rico solely managed a wild shot on the buzzer after a scramble at midcourt.
Jovana Nogic added 14, and Sasa Cadjo had 10 for Serbia. Trinity San Antonio led Puerto Rico with 11.