In a dominant performance on Monday, the French women’s basketball team broke the Women’s FIBA World Cup record for three‑point shots in a single game. The squad landed 22 treys against a pre‑eliminated Nigeria squad, cruising to a 111‑56 victory that underscored France’s offensive firepower.
The record‑breaking moment came when Migna Toure sank her 21st three‑pointer with 5:45 left on the clock, surpassing the three‑day‑old mark of 20 set by Japan earlier in the tournament. Dominique Malonga added the 22nd three‑pointer moments later, cementing the new high water mark.
Gabby Williams led the French effort with 25 points and six rebounds, guiding the Olympic finalists to a comfortable win that also guaranteed their place in the quarterfinals. France now looks ahead to its next matchup, confident that its shooting prowess will continue to trouble opponents.
Belgium rides strong play into quarterfinals
Across Group C, Belgium delivered a decisive 80‑68 triumph over Australia, earning the top spot in the group and a direct berth in Thursday’s quarterfinals. Emma Meesseman was the standout, posting a double‑double with 22 points and 10 rebounds. Her performance helped Belgium build a five‑point lead heading into the fourth quarter, after which the team surged on an 11‑2 run that left the Opals unable to recover.
Julie Allemand contributed seven assists, moving her career total to an all‑time World Cup record of 111 assists. The European champion now enjoys a brief respite before its next contest on Thursday.
Other group results and upcoming matchups
In Group B, Hungary edged South Korea 82‑73 to finish second in the group, while both teams await the outcomes of Group A games to determine their quarterfinal opponents.
Puerto Rico closed its group stage with a dramatic 75‑71 win over Turkey. Arella Guirantes led the Puerto Rican side with 21 points, and a late surge by Imani McGee‑Stafford and Pamela Rosado turned a seven‑point deficit into a one‑point lead in the final quarter.
Turkey’s power forward Elif Bayram suffered a left‑leg injury early in the fourth quarter, and despite a vocal fan presence at Berlin’s Max‑Schmeling‑Halle, the team could not halt Guirantes’ clutch free throws.
Quarterfinal pathways
The four group winners—France, Belgium, the United States and another yet‑to‑be‑determined team—advance directly to Thursday’s quarterfinals. Teams finishing second and third will face playoff games on Tuesday or Wednesday to earn the remaining spots.
Host Germany (1‑1) will meet Mali (1‑1), while Spain (1‑1) faces Japan (1‑1) later in Group A. In Group D, Italy (1‑1) will clash with China (1‑1) for the second place slot after a near‑upset of the United States on Sunday night. The United States, already 2‑0, has secured its quarterfinal berth and will play its final group game against the Czech Republic, which was eliminated after two losses.
These results set the stage for an exciting knockout round, with European teams showing particular strength and the United States poised to continue its dominant run.
Original reporting: KSAT Sports (San Antonio) — read the source article.
