Wednesday's Worlds Capsules

OSTRAVA, Czech Republic - Yelena Leuchanka scored 24 points and grabbed 11 rebounds to lead Belarus to a 74-70 win over Greece and into the quarterfinals for the first time ever.

Leuchanka also hit four of the Belarusians' 11 3-pointers. Anastasiya Verameyenka added 13 points and 10 rebounds for Belarus (3-3).

Evanthia Maltsi hit a 3-pointer to start the second half and give Greece its first lead since early in the game. Belarus scored the next five points, but the Greeks wouldn't go away.

Belarus kept getting its lead to seven points before Greece (2-4) would cut it back down behind Styliani Kaltsidou and Maltsi. Kaltsidou led Greece with 29 points and Maltsi added 17.

The Belarusians were up 70-63 with 2:57 left before Greece climbed within two on a tough floater in the lane by Kaltsidou with 25 seconds left.

After allowing Belarus to take a lot of time off the clock, Greece finally fouled Natallia Marchanka with 10 seconds left. She calmly hit both free throws to seal the victory and start of a jubilant celebration in the stands by the many Belarus fans who made the trek.

Trailing 40-30 with 2:06 left in the half, Greece rallied behind Maltsi. She ignited a 10-0 run with a jumper from the top of the key. She then closed the half with a 3-pointer that made it 40-38 with 29 seconds left in the half.

Leuchanka helped Belarus build its lead with 13 points and seven rebounds in the first half.

OSTRAVA, Czech Republic - Diana Taurasi scored 24 points and Sylvia Fowles added 15 to help the United States beat Australia, earning the top seed in the quarterfinals.

Tina Charles had 14 points for the U.S. (6-0), which will face South Korea on Friday in Karlovy Vary. Australia (5-1) will take on the Czech Republic. The Americans remained undefeated against the Aussies in the worlds, improving to 9-0 all-time.

Liz Cambage, the 6-foot-8 phenom, scored 18 points to lead the defending world champions while Lauren Jackson added 13.

The two teams could meet again in a potential gold medal game.

It was strange seeing these two women's basketball powerhouses meet so early in the tournament. This was the first time since 1994 that they played in the worlds before the medal round.

OSTRAVA, Czech Republic - Celine Dumerc's layup at the buzzer lifted France over Canada.

Dumerc caught the ball with 4.6 seconds left at the top of the key and drove to the left, letting the ball go just as the game ended.

Endene Miyem and Anael Lardy scored nine points to lead France, which will play Spain in the quarterfinals.

Canada rallied back after going without a field goal for 17 1/2 minutes. Trailing 45-42, Kim Smith hit a jumper from the corner and followed it up with a 3-pointer with 37 seconds left to give Canada a two-point edge.

Miyem answered with a basket to tie the score at 47.

Canada had a chance to win, but Tamara Tatham missed two free throws with 19 seconds left. The Canadians got the rebound, but turned the ball over with 4.6 left.

Smith and Notre Dame Freshman Natalie Achonwa each had 12 points for Canada (1-5), which got off to a great start taking a 23-12 lead with 6:37 left in the first half. That would be the last basket Canada would score for more than 17 minutes.

Alisha Tatham's basket a minute into the fourth quarter finally ended the long drought and made it 33-30. Canada missed 10 shots and had nine turnovers during that stretch.

BRNO, Czech Republic - Becky Hammon scored 27 points and Russia used a late 16-0 run to beat Spain and earn the second seed in the quarterfinals.

Trailing 60-54 with 8:49 left, Russia went on 16-0 run to take over. Hammon had eight points during the spurt while Irina Osipova added six. She finished with 14 points.

The Russians (6-0) will face Belarus in the quarterfinals on Friday while Spain (5-1) will take on France.

Sancho Lyttle scored 16 points to lead Spain.

BRNO, Czech Republic - Eva Viteckova scored 24 points and Hana Horakova added 17 to help the Czech Republic top Brazil.

Ivana Vecerova had 16 and Petra Kulichova 12 as the host nation advanced to the quarterfinals as the third seed. They will play Australia on Friday.

Trailing 40-36 early in the third quarter, the Czech Republic went on an 18-1 run to open up a 54-41 lead. Horakova had the final four points of the spurt. Brazil closed to 60-55 on Iziane Castro Marques' 3-pointer with 16 seconds left in the quarter.

The Czechs (4-2) led 60-56 early in the fourth before going on a 12-3 spurt to put the game away and end Brazil's hope of advancing.

Castro Marquez scored 27 points to lead Brazil while Erika de Souza added 16.

BRNO, Czech Republic - Sunmin Jung scored 21 points and Ji Yoon Kim added 14 to help South Korea top Japan and advance to the quarterfinals.

Trailing 60-50 with 5:35 left in the fourth quarter, Japan rallied scoring the next nine points. Yuko Oga had four points during the spurt and Nagi capped it with a jumper that made it 60-59 with 3:04 left.

The teams traded baskets before J. Kim got fouled with 20 seconds left. She hit the first free throw and missed the second. Korea (3-3) got the offensive rebound and Beon hit both free throws to seal the win.

Yoshida hit a 3-pointer with two seconds left for the final margin.

Yuko Oga scored 17 points and Yoko Nagi added 15 for Japan (2-4).

KARLOVY VARY, Czech Republic - Chen Nan scorede 18 points and Liu Dan added 17 to lead China to a 13th place finish with a victory over Argentina.

It was a disappointing tournament for the fourth-place finisher at the 2008 Olympics as they were winless in their group before sweeping through the classication round.

Trailing by four early on, China (2-3) used a 16-0 run to take a 25-13 lead with 31 seconds in the first quarter. Liu had the final four points during the spurt.

Argentina (1-4) cut its deficit to 50-48 on M Cava's 3-pointer with 3:37 left in the third quarter, but China scored 11 of the final 14 points in the period to put the game away.

Marina Cava scored 18 points to lead Argentina.

KARLOVY VARY, Czech Republic - Djene Diawara scored 14 points to lead Mali to its first win in the tournament.

Mali (1-4) built a four-point lead in overtime before M. Sy's 3-pointer with 30 seconds left made it 67-66. Hamchetou Maiga Ba answered with a short jumper to restore Mali's three-point lead with 14 seconds left.

Two seconds later, Diodio Diouf made the first of two free throws. Senegal got the offensive rebound, but Aya Traore's jumper with a second left was off the mark.

Magnouma Coulibaly forced the overtime making a layup with one second left to tie the game at 61.

Traore scored 15 points to lead Senegal (0-5).