FIBA Women’s Asia Cup Division B:
Iran hammers Mongolia to stay top of group
Irani claimed a second emphatic win in their FIBA Women’s Asia Cup Division B campaign, routing Mongolia 89-55 in Shenzhen, China, on Tuesday.
Both teams entered the contest on the back of first-day victories, but it was Iran’s three-point shooting and defensive intensity that ultimately made the difference.
Iranian girls hit six triples in the first eight minutes to erect a 25-6 lead that they never relinquished. Mongolia battled valiantly, but Iran’s Roxanna Barahman and Negin Rasoulipour controlled the tempo for much of the game to secure the win.
Having demolished the Cook Islands 82-32 in their opening game, Iran stayed atop the Group B table in the eight-team tournament, remaining on course for a maiden progress to the top division.
Rasoulipour led Iran with 20 points, including four three-pointers, while Barahman added 15.
Nahideh Asadi also finished in double figures for Iran, dropping 10, with Khulan Onolbaatar and Tsatsral Bayarmaa top-scoring for Mongolia with 10 points apiece.
Iran will take on Thailand, which was beaten 81-74 by Mongolia on Monday, today at the Shenzhen Sports Center.
Greek coach Eleni Kapogianni’s side had defeated Syria (65-55) and Jordan (88-70) in April’s qualifiers in Amman to book a place in the eight-team Division B finals.
The winner of the competition will be part of the qualification for next edition of the Asia Cup, Division A.
The Chinese Taipei and Kazakhstan are two former Div. A sides in Group A, also featuring Tahiti and India.