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Saitama, Japan (AP) — Saki Hayashi scored 23 points and Japan advanced to the quarterfinals on Monday on the 102-83 route of Nigeria in the final pool play game of both teams.
Kazuyuki Miyazu added 19 points to the host country and scored 19 3 points in the game.
Japan (2-1) got off to a quick start from the field, with seven of the first nine three-point attempts rising to 30-22 after the first quarter. After Nigeria reduced its deficit to 38-36, Japan took control with 13 straight points. Hayashi had three consecutive pointers sandwiched around the inbound path theft between them. She scored 20 points in half and hit six 3 points.
Japan led 51-38 in half-time after hitting 12 out of 19 3-point attempts in the 20th minute of the opening. The Japanese team wasn’t very calm in the second half as Nigeria couldn’t return to the match.
Nigeria (0-3) has become the latest African country to fail to win the Olympic games. Nigeria was the last team to win the Olympics on the continent when they won the 2004 Athens Olympics 1-5.
Victoria Macaulay scored 18 to lead Nigeria.
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