Chinese women's basketball team outplayed visiting Poland 91-72 in Wuxi, southeast China, on Thursday, winning seven of the eight games played since their gathering for the Olympics earlier in March.
Four Chinese players scored in double figures, led by Miao Lijie, who had 20 points and five assists. Chen Nan and Zhang Xiaoni added 18 points each, Chen Xiaoli scored 12 points for the hosts.
China was only defeated in the eight games by the United States in the six-nation Good Luck Beijing tournament preliminary last month, but avenged with an 84-81 rout over the Americans in the final for the title.
The Chinese girls controlled the game Thursday night after a 6-0 spur in the first quarter for a 13-9 edge and expended the lead to double figures with 6:20 minutes remaining in the first half.
Poland cut the gap to 34-42 in the earlier second half but never closed than nine points.
Monica Krawiec scored 19 points for the Polish, who were beaten by China 74-88 six years ago in Australia. Dorota Gburczyk scored 10 points for the visitors.
"Chinese team is very good, I think they can make a good result at the Beijing Olympics," said Krzystor Koziorowicz, Poland head coach. "Miao gave me deep impression this game, I saw her in Australia in 2002 when our team lost to China," the coach added.
Chinese coach Tom Mahar said that "though we won, but we still have something to improve. And we may get a medal in the Olympics this summer, but we still need to play more aggressive, more teammwork, more skill."
Both teams will play the second and third games in Huizhou, Guangdong Province on May 17, and Jiyuan, Henan Province on May 19.
(Xinhua News Agency May 16, 2008)