In a surprising turn of events at the Women’s Basketball World Cup in Berlin, Mali pulled off a stunning 82-73 victory over Spain on Saturday. The win represents only the second triumph for the African nation in the tournament’s history, the first coming against Senegal in overtime back in 2010.
Key moments
Mali trailed by two points at halftime but surged ahead in the third quarter, outscoring Spain 31-19. A decisive 16-4 run gave Mali the lead, and the momentum continued with a 16-4 spurt that put the game out of reach. Sika Kone, who finished with 19 points and 10 rebounds, hit two crucial three‑pointers during the run and added another from beyond the arc early in the fourth quarter.
Djeneba N’Diaye also contributed 19 points, helping Mali improve its World Cup record to 2-10. Spain’s Iyana Martin led the Spaniards with 20 points, but the team could not close the gap, finishing nine points behind.
Other Group A results
Germany secured its first win, beating Japan 74-58 after a dominant 28-11 first‑quarter performance. German star Leonie Fiebich noted the strategy of limiting Japan’s three‑point shooting, which had faltered after a record‑setting night. Frieda Buhner added 19 points, while Nyara Sabally contributed 18 for the hosts.
Hungary earned its first World Cup victory in 28 years, edging Nigeria 71-67. Dorka Juhasz posted 19 points and 16 rebounds, and Reka Lelik sealed the win with two free throws in the final seconds. Hungary now moves on to face Korea.
France rebounded from a slow start to rout South Korea 95-69. Marine Johannes scored 17 points, with Dominique Malonga and Gabby Williams each adding 14 in a decisive third‑quarter run.
All four teams in Group A are now tied at 1-1, setting up an intriguing second round of play.
Original reporting: Texarkana Gazette — read the source article.
