Japan’s women’s basketball team got off to a great start in its quest for a spot on the podium with a thrilling 74-70 win over France in their first game in Group B on Tuesday.
The hosts and the French squad went toe-to-toe — while employing completely different styles — throughout a seesaw affair that saw 17 lead changes.
France, the world’s No. 5 ranked team, got much of its scoring from post-up plays by the 193-cm Sandrine Gruda in the final quarter, but Japan did not back away and responded by draining key 3-pointers down the stretch.