France will face world No. 6 Belgium in the penultimate round in the Olympic Games Paris 2024 women’s basketball.
France leaned on outside sniping to upend Germany, 84-71, and reach the semifinals in the Olympic Games Paris 2024 women’s basketball at the Bercy Arena on Thursday, Aug. 8.
The home team fired 11 from deep, including five by Marine Johannes who finished with 24 big points.
World No. 7 France thus arranged a semifinal clash with Belgium, which earlier routed Spain, 79-66, in their side of the quarterfinals.
[RELATED STORY: Belgium barges into Olympics semis with win over Spain in Paris 2024]
Johannes’ last triple came with still 7:53 remaining in the game to give the Frenchwomen a comfortable 73-54 buffer.
But 19th ranked Germany, which upset World No. 6 Belgium in the group stages, had thrived in the uncomfortable in its Olympic debut.
[RELATED STORY: Germany pulls off upset vs. European champion Belgium in Olympics women’s basketball debut]
Facing imminent elimination, the Germans staged an uprising in the fourth period, coming up with a 15-5 blitz to close in at 69-78.
But a three-point bomb from Valeriane Ayayi in the 2:13 mark restored order for the seventh-ranked crew, 81-69, and there was nothing Germany could do from there.
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Gabby Williams and Alexia Chery had 15 and 13 points, respectively, for France in the win that set up a semifinal clash against Belgium.
While France did a tremendous job from the three-point area, Germany shot a woeful 4-for-14 or 29 percent from that range.