Puerto Rico's Jazmon Gwathmey (24) drives between China's Yuan Li (4) and Liwei Yang (3) during a women's basketball preliminary round game at the 2020 Summer Olympics in Saitama, Japan, Tuesday, July 27, 2021. (AP Photo/Eric Gay)
The Associated Press
SAITAMA, Japan (AP) - Li Yueru scored 21 points and grabbed 12 rebounds as China spoiled Puerto Rico's Olympic debut in women's basketball Tuesday night with a 97-55 rout.
China, which won silver in the 1992 Barcelona Games and is in its ninth Olympics, had little issue dominating Puerto Rico from the opening tip.
The Chinese never trailed and led 32-17 at the end of the first quarter after hitting 9 of 18 shots. They took their biggest lead at 53-26 after the second even with coach Xu Limin wearing a walking boot on his left foot and needing a wheelchair to leave the court for the locker room at halftime.
China padded the lead for a 71-39 edge after the third quarter on its way to the opening victory.
Li Meng scored 15 points for China. Han Xu added 11 points and a game-high 14 rebounds, while Pan Zhenqi had 11.
Pamela Rosado led Puerto Rico with 14 points. Jennifer O'Neill, who played in college at Kentucky, scored 13, and Isalys Quinones added 10.
China plays Australia on Friday in Group C play with Puerto Rico facing Belgium, which beat Australia by in its own Olympic debut.
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Puerto Rico's Jennifer O'Neill (0) pulls down a rebound from China's Ting Shao (7) during a women's basketball preliminary round game at the 2020 Summer Olympics in Saitama, Japan, Tuesday, July 27, 2021. (AP Photo/Eric Gay)
The Associated Press
Puerto Rico's Jennifer O'Neill (0) and China's Ting Shao (7) chase a loose ball during a women's basketball preliminary round game at the 2020 Summer Olympics in Saitama, Japan, Tuesday, July 27, 2021. (AP Photo/Charlie Neibergall)
The Associated Press
China's Liwei Yang (3) drives between Puerto Rico's Jennifer O'Neill, left, and Tayra Melendez, right, during a women's basketball preliminary round game at the 2020 Summer Olympics in Saitama, Japan, Tuesday, July 27, 2021. (AP Photo/Charlie Neibergall)
The Associated Press
China's Siyu Wang (5) drives between Puerto Rico's Sabrina Lozada-Cabbage and Dayshalee Salaman (12) during a women's basketball preliminary round game at the 2020 Summer Olympics in Saitama, Japan, Tuesday, July 27, 2021. (AP Photo/Charlie Neibergall)
The Associated Press
Puerto Rico's India Pagan (33) and China's Zhenqi Pan (10) battle for a rebound during a women's basketball preliminary round game at the 2020 Summer Olympics in Saitama, Japan, Tuesday, July 27, 2021. (AP Photo/Eric Gay)
The Associated Press
Puerto Rico's Dayshalee Salaman (12) drives on China's Siyu Wang (5) during a women's basketball preliminary round game at the 2020 Summer Olympics in Saitama, Japan, Tuesday, July 27, 2021. (AP Photo/Eric Gay)
The Associated Press
China's Liwei Yang (3) drives on Puerto Rico's Tayra Melendez (1) during a women's basketball preliminary round game at the 2020 Summer Olympics in Saitama, Japan, Tuesday, July 27, 2021. (AP Photo/Charlie Neibergall)
The Associated Press
China's Yueru Li (14) and Puerto Rico's Ali Gibson (9) battle for the ball as Isalys Quinones (25) reaches during a women's basketball preliminary round game at the 2020 Summer Olympics in Saitama, Japan, Tuesday, July 27, 2021. (AP Photo/Charlie Neibergall)
The Associated Press