Boxscore ¦ Photogallery

VIDNOJE (FIBA U21 World Championship for Women) - Sandrine Gruda flashed her all-star credentials once again on Friday as France overpowered China 87-59 on the first day of the FIBA U21 World Championship for Women.

Gruda, who excelled with French giants US Valenciennes this year, had 24 points and 11 rebounds.

The Chinese briefly led, 22-20 at the of the first quarter, but the French then turned on the style with a 15-7 run to hold a 35-29 advantage midway through the second quarter.

They stretched the lead to 49-38 by half-time.

China rallied and cut the deficit to 54-51, but France outscored their Asian opponents 33-8 over the final 15 minutes of the contest.

Endene Miyem, who played in the EuroLeague Women Final Four this year with Bourges, weighed in with 16 points and 13 boards while Tarbes' Isabelle Yacoubou poured in 15 and corralled seven rebounds.

Les Bleues dominated the rebounding, taking 57 to just 38 for China.

Fang Yuan and Yajing Sun eached scored 12 points for the Chinese.

FIBA