On February 8, Beijing time, in the women's basketball qualifying match for the 2024 Paris Olympic Games, the first game of the Chinese women's basketball group ended the competition, and the Chinese women's basketball team finally defeated New Zealand to get off to a good start.
In the first quarter of the game, Han Xu helped the Chinese team open the situation, and hit an outside three-point shot, and then the defense of New Zealand began to shrink, and the Chinese team had ups and downs on the offensive end, but the Chinese team immediately adjusted and drove the offense through the change of defensive strategy. At the end of the first quarter, under the tandem of Li Yuan, the Chinese team used the blocking and dismantling to score continuously, and at the end of the first quarter, the Chinese team temporarily led the opponent 22-12.
In the second quarter, Li Yueru's inside singles were not in good shape, Li Meng broke through the layup and hit two plus one, and the score came to 29-16, and then Han Xu was replaced on the court, the Chinese team expanded the defensive range, New Zealand broke through the layup and was capped off by Han Xu, after which New Zealand's physical fitness declined, and there were continuous mistakes, Li Meng seized the opportunity to counterattack again to play two plus one, and New Zealand was forced to call a timeout. After the pause, the Chinese team continued to press the defense, the New Zealand team was unable to parry at both ends of the offensive and defensive ends, Han Xu hit a 3-point outside line, Li Meng also scored a fast counterattack, and at the end of the first half, the Chinese women's basketball team led the opponent 53-22.
Coming back in the second half, the Chinese team began to exert strength on the outside, Wang Siyu used the breakthrough to create consecutive kills, and the offensive end of New Zealand's side still did not improve. Then Wang Siyu connected the whole team to attack, Li Yueru scored easily under the basket, Li Meng received Wang Siyu's assist in mid-distance shooting, Pan Zhenqi hit a 3-point shot from a distance, the Chinese team played a wave of offensive climax, New Zealand was forced to call a timeout, at the end of the period, Wu Tongtong broke through to help the Chinese team continue to expand the lead, and at the end of the third quarter, the Chinese team occupied an absolute advantage of 77-34.
In the last quarter, the game entered garbage time, the Chinese team's defensive pressure intensity did not decrease, although the New Zealand team passed and cut the cooperation improved slightly, but the difference between the two sides was too big, and finally the Chinese women's basketball team defeated New Zealand 94-47 and won the first victory of the Olympic qualifying tournament.
Chinese team statistics: Li Meng 14 points and 3 rebounds, Han Xu 21 points and 6 rebounds, Yang Liwei 12 points, Li Yueru 16 points and 12 rebounds, Wang Siyu 6 points and 6 assists, Huang Sijing 6 points and 6 rebounds, Li Yuan 5 points and 11 assists.