BERLIN, Sept. 5 (Xinhua) -- France became the first team to secure a place in the FIBA Women's Basketball World Cup quarterfinals on Saturday, while underdogs Mali and Hungary stole the show on a day of upsets in Berlin.
World No. 2 France defeated South Korea 95-69 to improve to 2-0 and seal top spot in Group B, earning direct entry to the last eight.
The outcome appeared far from certain after South Korea scored 31 points in the opening quarter. Trailing by seven points, France tightened its defense and held South Korea to just six points in the second quarter to turn the contest around.
A 15-0 run in the third quarter then transformed an eight-point lead into a commanding 62-39 advantage as France underlined its status as one of the tournament's favorites.
France guard Marine Johannes finished with a team-high 17 points.
Also in Group B, 19th-ranked Hungary held off world No. 8 Nigeria 71-67 for its first World Cup victory in 28 years.
Dorka Juhasz contributed 19 points and 16 rebounds for Hungary, while Virag Takacs-Kiss added 17 points and 14 rebounds. Their combined 30 rebounds set a World Cup record for a pair of teammates since the statistic began to be tracked in 1994.
Nigeria cut a 14-point deficit to two in the closing seconds, but Reka Lelik converted two late free throws to secure a victory that kept Hungary in contention.
Hungary and South Korea are both 1-1 ahead of their meeting on Monday, while winless Nigeria faces France. The group winners will advance directly to the quarterfinals, the second- and third-placed teams enter the qualification round, and the bottom side is eliminated.
The day's defining result came earlier in Group A, where 18th-ranked Mali stunned world No. 6 Spain 82-73 for its only second victory in World Cup history and first against European teams.
After losing 102-97 to Japan in its opener, Mali again played at a high tempo but this time found the accuracy. Trailing by two at halftime, the African side converted six of seven three-point attempts in a 31-point third quarter to take control.
Sika Kone led Mali with 19 points and 10 rebounds, becoming the first player to record five consecutive double-doubles at the tournament, while Djeneba N'Diaye also scored 19. Spain, who beat host Germany 83-53 a day earlier, made only four of its 22 attempts from beyond the arc.
Mali's breakthrough transformed the complexion of Group A, and Germany added to it with a 74-58 win over Japan later in the day in front of a capacity crowd.
Japan entered the game having set a World Cup record with 20 three-pointers against Mali. Germany, however, held Japan to just three of 27 three-pointers and claimed its first World Cup victory since 1998.
Frieda Buhner scored 19 points for Germany, and Nyara Sabally added 18 points and nine rebounds.
Spain, Mali, Japan and Germany are level at 1-1, with only points difference separating them before Monday's final group games. Spain leads the standings ahead of Mali, Japan and Germany, with Spain facing Japan, while Germany takes on Mali. ■
