The Beijing 2008 Paralympic Games will see Athens 2004 gold medal match contenders the United States and Australia clash to determine which team will remain unbeaten in group A as day three of the Women's Wheelchair Basketball takes place at the National Indoor Stadium and the USTB Gymnasium on Tuesday, September 9.
Australia vs. USA (Pool A) - USTB Gymnasium
Silver medalist in Athens 2004 Australia started with two easy wins over Great Britain (59-30) and Brazil (66-30) based on an aggressive defense.
Liesl Tesch and Cobi Crispin both averaged 13.5 points per game and combined for 14.5 rebounds per game.
Reigning Paralympic gold medalist Team USA rallied after a slow beginning to defeat Germany 42-38 in its first Beijing 2008 match.
Christina Ripp was the team's best player as she had 11 points, five rebounds and five assists. US star player Jen Ruddell had a poor shooting performance on Monday, netting only 1 of 15 field goals.
Mexico vs. China (Pool B) - National Indoor Stadium
Mexico dropped its second of two games thus far in the tournament after losing 52-34 to Japan on Monday. Mexico was also defeated 59-46 in its opener against the Netherlands on Sunday.
In the fourth quarter against Japan, Mexico missed seven of its last 10 field goal attempts and its two last free throw attempts. Forward Lucia Vazquez Delgadillo was the only Mexican player to score in double digits (10 points).
China is 0-1 in the tournament, having lost 49-46 to Japan in their first game on Sunday.
Fu Yongqing was China's high scorer (20 points) and rebounder (16) in her team's loss to Japan on Sunday.
Great Britain vs. Brazil (Pool A) - USTB Gymnasium
Great Britain lost big to Australia, 59-30, on Sunday and had free session on Monday.
No British players reached double figures on Sunday. Clare Strange and Sally Wager were the team's top scorers with five points apiece.
Brazil suffered two heavy losses against two medal contenders. Germany outclassed the South Americans (62-32) on Sunday, while Australia beat them 66-30 one day later.
Jucilene Moraes averaged 9.5 points in the first two matches with a poor 15 percent in field goals, hitting only seven of 46 shots.
Japan vs. Canada (Pool B) - National Indoor Stadium
Japan has won both of its games thus far in the tournament, including Monday's 52-34 victory over Mexico and Sunday's 49-46 win over China.
Following Japan's win against Mexico on Monday, coach Iwasa Yoshiaki said his team has found its tempo, and hopes to win against Canada.
Canada, the Athens bronze medalist and reigning world champion, played its first game of the tournament on Monday and defeated the Netherlands 59-32.
Chantal Benoit scored 14 points, while Los Angeles 1984 Olympian Misty Thomas led the Canadians in rebounds (10) and assists (6) in the win against the Netherlands.
(BOCOG September 9, 2008)