YANGQUAN, Shanxi, May 17 (Xinhua) --- Chinese women's national basketball team edged the Cuban counterpart 74-67 to enjoy a two- game winning streak in Sino-Cuban Women's International Basketball Challenge here on Friday.
As a warm-up for Asian Women's Basketball Championship this October, Chinese team's head coach Tom Maher found some "new faces " this time. He showed positive attitude towards these young girls ' performance in this game, including Li Meng, born in 1995, the youngest girl in this national team.
"Li showed that she got the way to learn, and I believe in her success in the future," he said.
Ji Yanyan contributed a team-high 14 points. Xu Nuo, Chen Nan and Liu Jiacen each scored nine points.
The Chinese side crushed over the same opponent 73-57 in Beijing on Thursday. Over 3,000 fans crowded into Yangquan Gymnasium to support the Chinese girls. Center Chen Nan opened the game with a jumper, followed by Ji Yanyan's layup and Liu Jiacen's three-point play, which forced the Cuban side into a timeout. The Chinese team led by 27-17 after the first period.
After trailing by 15 points into the halftime, the Cuban girls stormed to a 9-2 run after the third quarter began. Fortunately, Ding Yuan cooled down the opponents' momentum with a jumper. Through a 12-2 run, the Chinese side extended the lead to 17 points after this quarter.
The Cuban cut the deficit within six points with one minute remaining, while the home team secured the victory with free throws.
Yamara Amargo finished with a game-high 26 point. Her teammate Oyanaisis Gelis helped with 15 points.
The last match between both teams will be held two days later in Xiyang, Shanxi.