Basketball: Hayashi sets World Cup 3-point record as Japan edges Mali

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. …READ FULL ARTICLE