Olympic: Unlucky Mali bow to New Zealand 76-72

Africa representative at the basketball women event of the 2008 Beijing Olympic Games today lost narrowly to New Zealand by 76-72 points.

The Africa champion who had an above average game against the New Zealanders tied the first quarter at 18 points apiece only to go down in the second quarter by 24-15 points to end the first quarter proceeding with 9 points deficits.

But upon resumption of play in the third quarter Hamchetou Maiga and her colleagues rose from precipice to win by 21-18 points and continued the search for victory in the fourth quarter which they also won by 18016 points but such effort was not enough to secure for them the desired victory as they eventually go down by 76-72 points.

The reigning Most Valuable Player of the African Cup of Nations Maiga led her teammates with 18 points, 7 rebounds and 3 assist, followed by Djénébou Sissoko with 15 points and 3 rebounds.

2004 silver-medal winner Australia showed great promises that it is out to contest for medals after seeing off Belarus by 84-63, while host China prove some points that she won’t be an ordinary competitor as she post a 67-64 points win over Spain.

The Malian will keep a date against European power-house, Czech Republic on Monday. Other games billed for Monday at the 18,500 capacity gymnasium in Beijing includes New Zealand against Spain, Korea will take to the floor against Russia, Latvia will engage Belarus just as China test the might of reigning gold medalist United States of America while Australia will engage Brazil in a game of wit.