Belgium leaned on its best player to punch its way to the Olympic Games Paris 2024 women's basketball quarterfinals.
Needing a big win to advance to Paris 2024’s women’s basketball quarterfinals, Belgium turned to big time player Emma Meesseman to get the job done.
Meesseman delivered at the Pierre Mauroy Stadium on Sunday, August 4 (Philippine time).
The former WNBA Finals MVP did almost everything for the world No. 6 squad, putting up a staggering 30 points she topped with 11 rebounds, four assists and four blocks in over 32 minutes of play.
Meesseman also became the first player in history to score more than 20 points in six consecutive Olympic games.
With a 1-2 win-loss record in Group C and the 27-point win over Japan, the Cats are through to the quarterfinals.
Elise Ramette also played a crucial role for Belgium after finishing with 16 points including back-to-back triples inside the final five minutes when the team was trying to pile up more points to improve its chance to advance.
Antonia Delaere and Maxuella Mbaka added 12 points each.
The European champions seized control early before kicking into higher gear in the fourth period behind Meesseman, whose bank shot off a graceful sidestep gave them a 31-point buffer with 36.8 remaining.
Though chances of turning things around were slim to none, the Japanese had no quit in them.
But their shots simply did not fall as they tallied a dismal 9-for-37 from deep (24%) and 19-for-61 overall.
Only Saki Hayashi and Evelyn Mawuli finishing in double figures, with the former scoring 13 points to go with four rebounds, a block and an assist.
Mawuli added 12 points for Japan.