Japan opened its FIBA Women’s Basketball World Cup run by making history from beyond the arc.
Japan set a FIBA Women’s Basketball World Cup record with 20 made 3-pointers in a 102-97 comeback win over Mali on Friday in Berlin. Saki Hayashi also set the individual tournament record with nine 3s, while Las Vegas Aces guard Mai Yamamoto added three of her own.
Yamamoto finished with 10 points, three assists, one rebound, one steal and one block in 22:40. She shot 3 of 7 from deep and 1 of 2 at the free throw line.
Record-setting shooting
Japan trailed 25-21 after the first quarter and 52-48 at halftime. Mali still held a 73-71 edge entering the fourth.
Then Japan’s shooting finally broke the game open.
Japan scored 31 points in the fourth and finished 20 of 35 from 3, or 57.1 percent. The 20 makes set a new FIBA Women’s Basketball World Cup record.
Hayashi led the barrage with 27 points while shooting 9 of 15 from deep. Her nine made 3s also set the individual Women’s World Cup record.
Yamamoto was part of that perimeter attack. All three of her field goals came from beyond the arc.
Yamamoto contributes across the floor
Yamamoto’s 10 points were only part of her line.
She added three assists, a steal and a block while playing more than 22 minutes. Japan also received 18 points and seven assists from Kokoro Tanaka and 14 points from Maki Takada.
Japan finished with 26 assists on 37 made field goals and scored 26 points off Mali’s 17 turnovers.
Mali controlled several other areas. It outrebounded Japan 43-29, grabbed 16 offensive rebounds and scored 58 points in the paint.
However, Japan’s shooting erased those advantages.
Japan finishes the comeback
The game remained tight late before Japan took control.
With 4:28 remaining and Japan trailing 85-84, Hayashi hit a 3 to put Japan ahead. Japan then stretched the lead to six and held on through the final minutes.
Japan led for only 7:18 despite winning the game. Mali led for 29:52 and held a game-high 10-point advantage.
But Japan owned the closing stretch.
The fourth-quarter surge completed the comeback and gave Japan a 102-97 win to open group play.
For Yamamoto, it was a productive start to her World Cup run with the Aces well represented in Berlin. For Japan, it came with a place in the record book.
Up Next
Japan faces Germany on Saturday, Sept. 5, at Max-Schmeling-Halle in Berlin. Tipoff is scheduled for 12 a.m. PT.
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Dice City Sports editor Mark Hebert covers the Las Vegas Aces, Vegas Golden Knights, Las Vegas Raiders, Athletics, and UNLV baseball and softball. He has 24 years of journalism experience, is also a senior reporter at Exhibit City News, and previously covered the Dallas Stars and Texas Rangers. Follow him on X or connect on LinkedIn.
