China's Han Xu (center) goes to the basket in the women's preliminary round group C basketball match between China and Puerto Rico during the Tokyo 2020 Olympic Games at the Saitama Super Arena in Saitama on July 27, 2021. (ERIC GAY / POOL / AFP)

TOKYO - China trounced Puerto Rico 97-55 in the Tokyo Olympics women's basketball competition opener here on Tuesday.

China dished out 33 assists and outrebounded Puerto Rico 55-30

With a 9-2 sprint, China took a 15-point advantage in the first quarter. China dominated in the paint as Li Yueru notched 14 points in the first half to help China expend the lead to 53-26 at the break. China continued to take control throughout the game in the second half and never looked back to seal the victory.

China dished out 33 assists and outrebounded Puerto Rico 55-30. In the paint, China scored 50 points compared with 18 from Puerto Rico.

Li Yueru led China with 21 points and grabbed 12 rebounds. Li Meng added 15 points. Pan Zhenqi and Han Xu had 11 points apiece. Pamela Rosado had a team-high 14 points for Puerto Rico, followed by 13 from Jennifer O'Neill.

Both Belgium and Japan shocked their opponents.

Emma Meesseman had 32 points, nine rebounds and five assists to help Belgium overcome Australia 85-70.

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"She had a great game tonight. She did a fantastic job. We need to regroup and get back to the next one," said Australia's coach Sandy Brondello.

Belgium trailed 57-56 in the fourth quarter before taking a 15-2 sprint to turn the game around. Antonia Delaere notched 17 points for Belgium, followed by 16 from Julie Allemand. Ezi Magbegor led Australia with 20 points. Cayla George added 12.

Other action saw Japan upset France 74-70 in a thriller. France narrowed the margin to two points with six seconds left before Japan's top-scorer Saki Hayashi sank two free throws to seal the victory.

Hayashi had 12 points and Moeko Nagaoka contributed 11. Maki Takada added 10. Sandrine Gruda led France with a game-high 18 points and grabbed nine rebounds. Endene Miyem finished with 12 points.

The US women's basketball team started its Olympic title defense by beating Nigeria 81-72.