Big Upset! Han Xu Scores 19, Yang Shuyu Adds 15 as China Women's Basketball Team Beats Italy by 20 Points, Faces Puerto Rico in Qualification Playoff

A major upset occurred at the Women's Basketball World Cup early today as China women's basketball team, facing Italy who had lost to the United States by only 3 points, surprisingly defeated their opponents 71-51 by 20 points.

Could you have imagined this result before the game?

Before the game, few Chinese fans expected the China women's basketball team to beat Italy, let alone win by 20 points in the end. The result was truly surprising, but China women's basketball team achieved it.

The key factor behind China's victory was, first, that the team reduced its turnovers. In the previous game against the Czech Republic, China committed 25 turnovers, while against Italy it had only 10 turnovers, a reduction of 15.

Second, China's three-point shooting improved. China made 8 of 19 three-point attempts in this game, while Italy made only 2 of 17. Compared with that, making six fewer three-pointers meant 18 fewer points, which was close to the 20-point margin.

Of course, the most important factor in the victory was the players' performances, with Han Xu and Yang Shuyu being the biggest contributors. Han Xu scored a game-high 19 points and grabbed 10 rebounds, while Yang Shuyu scored the second-highest 15 points along with 5 rebounds and 4 assists.

Han Xu and Yang Shuyu also produced a memorable connection. In the fourth quarter, Yang Shuyu hit a buzzer-beating three-pointer from the top of the arc in the final seconds, then assisted Han Xu on a three-pointer from the same area on the next offensive play, extending the lead to 20 points. China women's basketball team ultimately won by 20 points.

From defeating the Czech Republic in overtime to this big win over Italy, China's in-game adjustments and targeted tactics played an important role. If the team can maintain this form in the next game, its chances of reaching the top eight will be high.

In the upcoming top-eight qualification playoff, China's opponent will be Puerto Rico. The opponent should not be underestimated, and China must not take them lightly. China women's basketball team previously faced Puerto Rico during a European training series, losing 63-70 at that time.