German stun Belgium while 2.23m Chinese star exits women's World Cup
· Yahoo Sports
Hosts Germans surprised European champions Belgium 93-74 to reach the semi-finals of the women's basketball World Cup for the first time while China's towering Zhang Ziyu could not prevent a 90-61 defeat against France earlier on Thursday.
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Leonie Fiebich had 17 points and Nyara Sabally 16 for the Germans in front of a Berlin home crowd which included former NBA great Dirk Nowitzki.
Emma Meesseman had 29 points for the Belgians who had trounced the Germans by 24 points at the same stage at last year's Euros.
The Germans now meet the next contenders in France who ended the tournament for Zhang and her team after limiting the 2.23 metres Zhang to seven points and eight rebounds.
Marine Johannès and Janelle Salaün had 15 points each for France and Han Xu had 21 points for China.
Teenager Zhang had been the talk of the tournament and her coach, Gong Luming, told reporters that she is "a once-in-a-century talent not only for our country but for the world."
As one of the tallest women in the world, she looks primed for a possible career in the WNBA in North America, although experts say the 19-year-old still needs to learn how to run and use her body for maximum impact.
The Chinese team have a special training programme for her before games which she completes away from the rest of the squad.
Even at the age of 7, Zhang measured 1.60m, several heads taller than other girls and boys her age.
US star Caitlin Clark said last week that "I've never played against a woman of that size" - although her team ran out easy 94-61 winners over China in group play.
The American record winners are now into the semi-finals after a 108-56 demolition of Hungary as they chase a fifth straight title.
FILE PHOTO - China's head coach Gong Luming talks with China's Zhang Ziyu (L) during the Women's Basketball World Championship Group D match between Italy and China. (is associated with: «German stun Belgium while 2.23m Chinese star exits women's World Cup») Andreas Gora/dpa