France beat Women's Basketball World Cup hosts Australia

By Can Erozden

ANKARA (AA) - France toppled 2022 FIBA Women's Basketball World Cup host nation Australia 70-57 in a Thursday opener in Sydney.

French forward Gabby Williams scored 23 points against Australia to be the key player for Les Bleues.

Marine Fauthoux, another French player, scored 10 points.

Australia's Bec Allen racked up 16 points for her team. The small forward was the only Australian player to score in double-digits in a Group B game.

France will face Canada in the next match on Friday.

Meanwhile, Australia will take on Mali on the same day in Sydney.

- China hammer Korea

In the World Cup's Group A match, China thrashed South Korea 107-44 on Thursday.

China's Xu Han posted a double-double with 13 points and 15 rebounds.

Liwei Yang and Meng Li scored 14 points each for China.

Yuan Li and had 12 points and Zhenqi Pan added 11 points for the Chinese team in Sydney.

South Korea's Jihyun Park was her team's highest scorer with 14 points.

- Results:

Group A

Bosnia and Herzegovina - Puerto Rico: 58-82

US - Belgium: 87-72

South Korea - China: 44-107

Group B

Canada - Serbia: 67-60

Japan - Mali: 89-56

Australia - France: 57-70