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VIDNOJE (FIBA U21 World Championship for Women) – Brazil put away a feisty Japan on Sunday to claim their first win of the FIBA U21 World Championship for Women.
 
Trailing 21-14 in the first quarter, the Japanese battled back to lead 30-27 with 3:46 to go before half-time after a three-ball by Naomi Hayashi.
 
Brazil then reeled off 10 consecutive points, Priscilla Dos Santos sparking the run with back-to-back jump shots, and the South Americans ended up leading 39-34 at half-time.
 
The team from the Far East, having upset Spain on Saturday, refused to give in.
 
A pair of Saori Fujiyoshi free throws closed the gap to 41-40 with 8:15 to go in the third quarter, and Risa Tsukano buried a jumper after a feed from Asami Yoshida to put Japan back into a one-point lead.
 
After Brazil moved back in front, Yoshida leveled the scores at 43-43 by splitting two free throws.
 
Franciele Nascimiento then answered with a jump shot to take her tally to nine points, and give the team from the FIBA Americas a 45-43 advantage.
 
The basket sparked a 9-0 run and Brazil led for the remainder of the contest.
 
The Brazilians, who got a game-high 22 points from Tatiane Balbino, would end up leading by as many as 17 points in the fourth quarter.
 
The rebounding was a major factor in the contest, with Brazil grabbing 55 – 16 on the offensive glass - to just 35 overall for Japan.
 
Risa Tsukano had 15 points and Shizuka Uchida 14 for the Japanese.
 
The teams will now have a rest day, with Japan taking on Australia on Tuesday and the Brazilians facing Hungary.
 
FIBA