Mali pulled off the first stunner of the Women’s Basketball World Cup by shocking Spain ۸۲-۷۳ on Saturday.
It was only the second win ever in tournament history for the African country, who beat Senegal in overtime in ۲۰۱۰.
Mali was down two at the half, but outscored Spain ۳۱-۱۹ in the third quarter to take the lead. Mali went on a ۱۶-۴ run in that period after it was down ۴۵-۴۴ to take command. Sika Kone, who finished with ۱۹ points, had two three-pointers during that game-changing run. Kone, who plays for the Atlanta Dream in the WNBA, also had ۱۰ rebounds.
Mali (۱-۱) scored the first five points of the fourth quarter, including another ۳-pointer by Kone, to put the game away as Spain could get no closer than nine the rest of the way.
Djeneba N’Diaye also had ۱۹ points for Mali, which is ۲-۱۰ in their World Cup history.
Iyana Martin scored ۲۰ points for Spain (۱-۱), who were one of the top teams in the world.
Hungary hold off Nigeria for first World Cup win in ۲۸ years
Dorka Juhasz had ۱۹ points and ۱۶ rebounds to help Hungary edge Nigeria ۷۱-۶۷.
Nigeria (۰-۲) were down ۶۶-۵۲ with ۳:۵۷ left before getting within two with ۳ seconds left on Elizabeth Balogun’s basket. Nigeria fouled Reka Lelik with just over a second left and she calmly knocked down both free throws to seal the win.
It was Hungary’s first victory since ۱۹۹۸ when the team topped China in the quarterfinals. Now they’ll play Korea next to close out pool play.
Virag Takacs-Kiss added ۱۷ points for Hungary (۱-۱). Juhasz, who plays for the Minnesota Lynx, had ۱۳ points and ۱۱ rebounds in the first half.
Amy Okonkwo scored ۱۷ points to lead Nigeria, which finishes off pool play against France.
Other games on Saturday were Germany against Japan and France playing Korea.
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