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VIDNOJE (FIBA U21 World Championship for Women) - Japan lowered the boom on Spain with a decisive run that started at the end of the second quarter on Saturday and finished midway through the third to get their FIBA U21 World Championship for Women on track in the Moscow Region.
 
One day after being hammered by Hungary, the Japanese recorded a 90-87 victory to leave both sides with 1-1 records.
 
Spain went into the game on the back of a narrow 90-86 triumph over Brazil and started the contest in first gear as Japan scored the game's first seven points.
 
The Asian team would end up leading by as many as nine in the first quarter but the Spanish stayed within striking distance and went on a 13-4 tear, capped by Maria Asumendi's three-ball with 4:07 to go in the second quarter, to lead 36-33.
 
Japan re-asserted themselves before the end of the half.
 
Akino Nakagawa buried a three-pointer for a 40-38 lead, and after Veronica Compan replied with a lay-up to pull Spain level, Asami Yoshida drilled a jump shot and Risa Tsukano

split two free throws for a 43-40 Japan advantage at the break.
 
Saori Fujiyoshi, who had a game-high 22 points for Japan, set the tone for the second half by immediately striking from behind the arc for a 46-40 Japan lead.
 
Iciar German answered with a three-point play for Spain to take her tally to eight points, but Kozue Tanaka took a pass from Yoshida and connected from long range for Japan's

second three of the third quarter to move in front at 49-43.
 
Fujiyoshi then took over, making consecutive baskets for a 53-44 lead, and Nakagawa continued the run with a pair of free throws before Fujiyoshi scored again, this time with a

jump shot for a 57-44 advantage.
 
Spain called a timeout, but it didn't cool off Fujiyoshi, who after a German turnover sank another jump shot to take her points haul to 21 and give Japan a 59-44 lead.
 
The Japanese looked to be in complete command near the end of the third quarter when Eri Nakahata made one of two from the charity stripe to make it 70-50.
 
But Spanish teams never quit, and this one certainly wasn't about to.
 
Spain gave themselves a chance with a 10-0 run that left them trailing 72-62 with 9:29 to go in the contest, and by the 6:09 mark had closed to 75-72 on a pair of Gomez free throws.
 
Japan kept their poise, however, and reeled off nine straight points to reclaim control.
 
Spain trimmed their deficit to three again, but were never able to pull even.
 
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