China beats Belarus 77-62 in Olympic women's basketball quarterfinal

中国女篮１９日在北京奥运会四分之一决赛中以７７：６２战胜白俄罗斯队，１６年来首次进入奥运会半决赛。

Host China roared into the Olympic women's basketball semifinals for the first time in 16 years on Tuesday, beating Belarus 77-62 in the quarterfinal.

Miao Lijie scored a game-high 28 points from a 10-of-14 field goals including a 3-of-5 three-pointers for China, who took silver at the Barcelona Olympics 16 years ago but never reached the last four since then.

"We have not played like this for a long time," Miao told the news conference. "We played with a very good teamwork and did all together just like one person. I am satisfied with the result and will try our best in the semifinals."

The Chinese will fight for a berth of final with current world champion Australia who crushed the Czech Republic 79-46 in Tuesday's another quarterfinal.

China took the lead early and finished the first period 19-13 after a 12-7 run and led as many as 13 points with two minutes to play in the second quarter.

The host led 38-25 at halftime and expanded it to 54-32 with a 16-7 spurt with 4:30 left in the third quarter.

Belarus never gave in and cut the cap to 47-56 on Yelena Leuchanka's layup with 7:40 remaining in the fourth quarter.

China regained the game as Miao scored seven to help China to a 15-4 run for a 71-51 lead, the biggest margin of the game. Belarus managed to close but never fewer than 11 points.

The Chinese shot 46 percent for 26-of-54 from the field goals including 4-of-9 out of long range to Belarus's 43 percent and forced the opponent to 27 turnovers, 15 of them in the first half.

Chen Xiaoli added 15 points for China, who was outrebounded 22- 41 by Belarus, who took part in the Olympic basketball for the first time.

Tatyana Troina led Belarus with 15 points, Anastasiya Verameyenka adden 13 and 10 rebounds and Olga Leuchanka hit 13 and grabbed 13 rebounds.

"I feel quite release now," said Tom Maher, the Chinese head coach. "It's not an easy way for us to win the game. I have to thank to Miao Lijie, who played great in the crucial time and lead the team for the victory."

中国女篮１９日在北京奥运会四分之一决赛中以７７：６２战胜白俄罗斯队，１６年来首次进入奥运会半决赛。

中国队主教练梅尔赛后对女篮思路和打法的革新作了诠释：“我知道我们能向前走，（因为）是在以更好的方式打球。从前当世界篮球不断进步时，中国篮球还是老的方法。现在我们开始防守并具有良好的控球。我们也在队员的思想上下功夫，改变她们进入球场时的心理，比如要放松。”

在对白俄罗斯队的比赛中，中国队后卫苗立杰表现出色，拿下全场最高的２８分。在她看来，球赢是因为全队的心放在一起，“中国女篮已经好久未给人呈现新东西了，这次打出了作风，展示了体育精神。我们用了２００％的力量在拼”。

中国女篮此前从未与白俄罗斯队交过手。但由于近年来与欧洲队伍比赛较多，特别是在预赛中连胜欧洲劲旅西班牙队和捷克队，使中国女篮面对高大的欧洲球员有了信心，也积累了经验。

中国队后卫卞兰赛后眼含泪水激动地说：“雅典奥运会输球后我们信心受损，现在我们终于回来了。”而前锋刘丹总结了这支进入四强的队伍与以往的不同之处在于“身体上敢于接触、速度和团队合作”。

中国队在１９９２年巴塞罗那奥运会和１９９４年世锦赛上分别获得银牌，但在亚特兰大奥运会和雅典奥运会上只位列第九。

被苗立杰描述为“有思想、有目标”的梅尔则指出了如何才能成为一支真正的世界劲旅：“成为顶尖球队、赢得奖牌，要能够连续进入四强。中国队需要在下届奥运会、下次世锦赛上打入四强，这就是考验。”

在谈到半决赛中有可能与上两届奥运会亚军、２００６年世锦赛冠军澳大利亚队相遇时，苗立杰说：“过程比结果更重要。无论输赢，中国篮球的团队精神不会垮。”

白俄罗斯队教练布亚尔斯基赛后评论说：“我们当然有着梦想、希望和期待。这是我们第一次参加奥运会，我们打进了四分之一决赛，我们的球员学到了很多。”