China's Yueru Li (14) reached over Belgium's Jana Raman (42) as she battles for a rebound during a women's basketball game at the 2020 Summer Olympics, Monday, Aug. 2, 2021, in Saitama, Japan. (AP Photo/Eric Gay)
The Associated Press
SAITAMA, Japan (AP) - Li Yueru scored 14 points, and China finished pool play undefeated beating Olympic newcomer Belgium 74-62 Monday night.
Both China and Belgium had already qualified for the quarterfinals with only seeding on the line when they played. China (3-0) finished atop Group C, while Belgium (2-1) remains one of the four seeded teams in the quarterfinals based on point differential.
Belgium led 21-17 after the first 10 minutes but China was up 38-37 at halftime. The lead was cut to one with 1.3 seconds left when Emma Meesseman hit two free throws after Huang Sijing was accessed an unsportsmanlike foul, her second.
Meesseman had 20 points by halftime but only scored four in the second half.
The Chinese led 59-52 after the third quarter and never trailed again.
Li Meng added 11 points for China, and Yang Liwei and Pan Zhenqi each had 10.
Julie Allemand and Kim Mestdagh scored 12 apiece for Belgium.
A scary moment came with 3:18 left in the game. Kim Mestdagh was chasing a loose ball and apparently hit around her throat in a collision. She seemed to have trouble breathing and grabbed at her throat before being helped to the bench a couple minutes later. She never left the bench area but didn't return.
___
More AP Olympics: https://apnews.com/hub/2020-tokyo-olympics and https://twitter.com/AP_Sports
Belgium's Emma Meesseman drives to the basket past China's Ting Shao (7) during a women's basketball preliminary round game at the 2020 Summer Olympics, Monday, Aug. 2, 2021, in Saitama, Japan. (AP Photo/Charlie Neibergall)
The Associated Press
China's Yueru Li (14) grabs a rebound over Belgium's Marjorie Carpreaux (9) and Hanne Mestdagh (22) during a women's basketball game at the 2020 Summer Olympics, Monday, Aug. 2, 2021, in Saitama, Japan. (AP Photo/Eric Gay)
The Associated Press
Belgium's Billie Massey fights for a loose ball with China's Meng Li, right, during a women's basketball preliminary round game at the 2020 Summer Olympics, Monday, Aug. 2, 2021, in Saitama, Japan. (AP Photo/Charlie Neibergall)
The Associated Press
China's Meng Li (9) drives to the basket against Belgium during a women's basketball game at the 2020 Summer Olympics, Monday, Aug. 2, 2021, in Saitama, Japan. (AP Photo/Eric Gay)
The Associated Press
Belgium's Jana Raman (42) shoots over China's Yuan Li during a women's basketball preliminary round game at the 2020 Summer Olympics, Monday, Aug. 2, 2021, in Saitama, Japan. (AP Photo/Charlie Neibergall)
The Associated Press
China's Meng Li (9) drives around Belgium's Antonia Delaere, left, during a women's basketball preliminary round game at the 2020 Summer Olympics, Monday, Aug. 2, 2021, in Saitama, Japan. (AP Photo/Charlie Neibergall)
The Associated Press
Belgium's Antonia Delaere (6) drives up court ahead of China's Ting Shao (7) during a women's basketball preliminary round game at the 2020 Summer Olympics, Monday, Aug. 2, 2021, in Saitama, Japan. (AP Photo/Charlie Neibergall)
The Associated Press