Japan suffered their third straight FIBA Women’s Basketball World Cup defeat on Monday, losing 67-53 to France after a last-quarter draw.
The result puts Tokyo Olympic silver medalists and world No. 8 Japan fifth in Group B with a 1-3 record heading into their final group stage game against world No. 3 Australia. tuesday.
Saori Miyazaki, with 13, was the only double-digit scorer for Japan, which managed just nine points after entering the fourth quarter trailing 48-44 at Sydney’s Olympic Park Sports Centre.
Members of Japan’s women’s basketball team (in red) look dejected after losing to France at the FIBA Women’s Basketball World Cup in Sydney on September 26, 2022. (Kyodo)
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Gabby Williams scored 16 goals and Iliana Rupert added 15 for Tokyo bronze medalist France, who avenged their 87-71 Olympic semi-final loss to Japan while improving to 3-1 in Group.
Japan opened the tournament with a win over Mali before suffering back-to-back defeats to Serbia and Canada.
France’s No.6 team will play their final group match against No.10 Serbia, currently 2-2, on Tuesday.
In Group A, the three-time defending champion USA improved to 4-0 with a 145-69 dismantling of South Korea.