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.
Japan had jointly held the previous record of 18 three-pointers, set against Kenya in 1994.
Hayashi's backcourt partner, Kokoro Tanaka, scored 18, while center Maki Takada added 14 off the bench.
World No. 10 Japan went into the final quarter of the Group A game trailing 71-73 before pulling away from 18th-ranked Mali down the stretch.
The group stage features 16 teams divided into four groups. Group winners automatically advance to the quarterfinals, while the teams finishing second and third will contest a quarterfinal qualifying round.
Head coach Corey Gaines' squad will meet Germany on Saturday before wrapping up the group stage against Spain on Monday.
The winner of the tournament earns direct qualification to the 2028 Los Angeles Olympics.
