SYDNEY—Leesuel Kang scored 37 points to help South Korea rout Bosnia and Herzegovina 99-66 on Saturday, giving the Asian country its first win in the women’s World Cup in 12 years.
South Korea (1-2), which has played in 16 consecutive World Cups — tied with the US for most ever — hadn’t won a game since 2010. That victory was by one point over Japan.
Kang hit seven 3-pointers to go along with eight rebounds, five assists and three steals.
In other games on Saturday, the US beat China, 77-63, and Belgium beat Puerto Rico, 68-65.
Hyejin Park added 16 points for South Korea, which made 14 3-pointers. It was only an eight-point game at the half before South Korea outscored Bosnia and Herzegovina 54-29 in the second half to blow open the game.
Jonquel Jones scored 21 points to lead Bosnia and Herzegovina.
BELGIUM 68, PUERTO RICO 65
KYARA LINSKENS scored 24 points and Emma Meesseman added six points, 12 rebounds and 11 assists to lead Belgium over Puerto Rico.
It was a back-and-forth game with neither team getting more than an eight-point lead.
Arella Guirantes, who finished with 27 points, gave Puerto Rico (1-2) a 62-61 advantage with 2:12 left. Belgium answered by scoring the next four points, including a layup by Linskens with 1:31 left.
Jennifer O’Neill hit two free throws with 58.4 seconds remaining after a steal to get Puerto Rico within 65-64. After Linskens hit one of two free throws to make it a two-point game, Guirantes missed a drive with seven seconds left.
Julie Allemand sealed the game with two free throws to give Belgium (2-1) the win.
Image credits: AP
