PARIS — The defending champions of the United States lost 17-13 to Germany in the opening game of the 3-on-3 basketball group stage at the Paris Olympics on Tuesday.
Hailey Van Lith led the United States with six points, but struggled after the game and said she believes the heat aggravated an existing illness.
“I think I have a cold,” she said. “I think it was because of the rain at the opening ceremony. So I think it's a combination of all of that, but I'll be fine. I played through it in the NCAA tournament, so there's nothing that can keep me out.”
Sonja Greinacher scored five points and grabbed six rebounds for Germany. Marie Reichert added five points.
The United States took a 5-0 lead, but Germany scored the next six points, including three from Elisa Mevius.
Van Lith made a layup before passing to Dearica Hamby for another basket to cut Germany's lead to 11-10 with about three minutes remaining.
Greinacher hit a 2-pointer for Germany before another Van Lith basket brought the U.S. back within one with about 90 seconds remaining.
This time, Germany secured the next four points with goals from Greinacher and Reichert.
“It obviously gives us a lot of confidence in ourselves for the future,” Greinacher said.
Cierra Burdick was disappointed by the team's Olympic debut, but said it's not surprising they still have work to do since they haven't played together for so long. Hamby replaced Cameron Brink on the team this summer after Brink suffered a knee injury.
“I knew it wasn't going to be pretty,” she said. “I didn't think it was going to be this ugly.”
CANADA 22, AUSTRALIA 14
Twins Michelle and Katherine Plouffe combined for 18 points to lead Canada past Australia.
Michelle Plouffe got the game going with a two-point shot and Canada scored the first six points. A two-point shot by her sister made it 9-1 with about 6 1/2 minutes left in the game.
Canada led 15-2 before Australia scored the next six points, with the last three coming from Alex Wilson. Michelle Plouffe ended the run by scoring the next three points to extend Canada's lead.
Katherine Plouffe sealed the result when she scored a basket before hitting a 2-point shot to give Canada 22 points with 1:22 remaining on the clock.
Wilson led Australia with six points and six rebounds.
SPAIN 18, AZERBAIJAN 16
Gracia Alonso and Vega Gimeno scored five points each as Spain edged out Azerbaijan.
Spain trailed by one point before scoring the next eight points to make it 14-7 with less than three minutes remaining.
Azerbaijan responded with a 4-0 run to get within three with about 1:30 remaining.
Spain took advantage of a turnover to score the next three points, capped by a double from Gimeno, to extend the lead to 17-11.
Azerbaijan closed to 17-14 on a Dina Ulyanova free throw with six seconds left, but Gimeno added a free throw for Spain.
Tiffany Hayes made a pair of free throws for Azerbaijan and cut the lead to two points with one second left. But the clock ran out before Azerbaijan could do anything else.
Hayes led Azerbaijan with 10 points and seven rebounds.
CHINA 21, FRANCE 19, OT
Lili Wang scored two points in sudden-death overtime for her only basket of the game, giving China the victory.
France's Hortense Limouzin made an off-balance layup as time expired, sending the game into overtime and delighting the crowd.
France had missed three shots in overtime, when the first team to score two points won, and China had missed once when Wang received the ball.
He stood up and fired from distance to give China the victory. He shouted and clenched his fists after the shot as the crowd, composed mainly of French people, fell silent.
Mingling Chen led China with 10 points and three rebounds. France got six points from Limouzin and Marie Eve Paget added five.
