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FIBA World Championship Women satisfaction for the favouritesThe second day of the FIBA World Championship in Ostrava saw Australia from Group A, France and the USA from Group B qualify for the qualification round. France has the upper hand on GreeceFrance got off to a perfect start by scoring the first 9 points of the game with less than three minutes on the game clock. Konstantinos Missas, the Greek coach, called for an immediate time-out to put a stop to the French attack. His tactic worked as France stopped scoring while his team scored back to back baskets. With Céline Dumerc pushing her team-mates and Florence Lepron doing most of the scoring France maintained their advantage (14-6) with three minutes left to play in the first quarter. Clémence Beikes brought the first quarter to an end with a 2-pointer baseline buzzer beater (20-12). Styliani Kaltsidou and Iouliti Lymoura scored two quick baskets to bring Greece right back into the game.
Yet Emméline Ndongue put France back in front from the free-throw line and her team-mates quickly reclaimed control of the game by scoring 11 consecutive points (33-22). The Greek coaching staff decided to call a time-out with less than two minutes to play in the quarter. France did not let the interruption stop them as they went into the interval ahead (40-23). Greece started to play more aggressively and with Dimitra Kalentzou becoming more active offensively, Greece reduced their deficit to 11 points (40-51) going into the final quarter. Greece continued to be aggressive as the intensity of the game went up. Evanthia Maltsi hit a three-pointer for Greece while Jennifer Digbeu replied in kind for France. After a couple of time-outs and with five minutes left to play France led (58-48).
With two minutes left to play Maltsi fouled out for Greece. With her departure the game fizzled out and France won (69-55) in their second match in the FIBA World Championship. Nwal-Endémé Miyem (right) led the French attack with 19 points. Digbeu and Ndongue finished with 11 and 10 points each. For Greece Olga Chatzinikolas and Kaltsidou scored 12 points each while Maltsi had 10 points. France will continue the FIBA World Championship for Women in the Qualification Round. Senegal have no answer for the US gameDiana Taurasi scored the first 8 points for the USA as she had to battle against the physical approach of Senegal (8-4) during the first three minutes. Once the USA had adapted to their opponents' style, the flood gates opened and Senegal were on the back foot. Moustapha Gaye, the coach from Senegal, called his first time-out with four minutes remaining in the first quarter with his side trailing (4-19). Awa Gueye ended the 17-point run of the USA with a baseline trey. But this did not stop the USA from taking the quarter (30-11).
Geno Auriemma, the USA coach, had the luxury of substituting five players at a time as his side stretched their advantage by the end of the third quarter to (86-36). Senegal woke up at the beginning of the final quarter. They started to hit shots from all over the court while the USA appeared to have relaxed. Yet Ashia Jones scored the 100th point for the USA with 36 minutes played with the USA lead having ballooned to over 50 points. The USA went on to win (108-52) and have booked their ticket for the next phase of the FIBA World Championship for Women. Six players from the USA were in double digits with College student Maya Moore (above in picture) leading the way with 15 points. For Senegal Fatou Deng was the only player in double digits with 10 points. Group B:
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France were finding it difficult to get into the paint. With just under six minutes to the break Greece were back on level terms (22-22) as France allowed Pelagia Papamichail (left) to get to the basket.
Dumerc was all over the place for France, winning critical rebounds, as France did not allow Greece to settle.
The Americans cruised all through the second quarter and went into the interval leading (58-25).
In the first game of the day in Ostrava, China took on Canada. Both teams had suffered defeats on 
After the break Canada started to play their characteristical running game. Tamara Tatham started the Canadian fightback to make up their deficit midway through the quarter.
Australia and Belarus gave a master class display in the art of perimeter shooting during the first 10 minutes as they hit a combined total of 7-from-12 from beyond the arc.
Belarus continued to push in order to create openings for three-points shots. However every time they connected, Belinda Snell hit back for Australia.
