BERLIN - Saki Hayashi scored a game-high 27 points, comprising a tournament record nine three-pointers, as Japan held off Mali 102-97 in their opening game of the Women's Basketball World Cup on Friday.

The 31-year-old shooting guard went 9-of-15 from distance in a player-of-the-game performance, helping Japan also set a new Women's World Cup record for most triples by a team with 20 at Berlin Arena.

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