China sweeps Cuba in basketball series

The Chinese women's basketball team recorded their third straight victory over Cuba after holding off the visitors 75-67 to conclude three-game China-Cuba International Challenge in Xiyang, Shangxi province on Sunday.

Chen Nan finished with a team-high 21 points as Lu Wen helped with 14. Shen Yi and Wei Wei added 11 points apiece.

"I never thought that I would be on the court for so much time. Maybe the coach wanted me to play more with the young girls in the team," Chen said.

Zhao Shuang opened the game with two free throws from second-chance offense. After both sides tied at 6, China coach Tom Maher called for a timeout, which saw the change in offense later. Chinese center Wei Wei, who started the game instead of Liu Jiacen, made three shots in the paint field. China led by 22-11 after the first period.

Chen Nan made a jumper, helping the Chinese side extend the margin to a double-digit figure. However, they suffered several turnovers, only to see the lead cut to eight points. Gao Song finished a shot at the halftime buzzer to help the home team lead 40-30.

The Cubans cut the deficit within three points when the Chinese sent substitutes onto the court. After Chen Nan, Zhao Shuang and Wei Wei left the bench, the Chinese side came back into the game. Chen Nan scored five points in a row to help her team build a nine-point lead into the final 12 minutes.

"I think we lost the mentality, the persistence ability and the ability to handle problems. I think the system was not effective yet then," said Maher.

The lead remained six to seven points for China in the last quarter. With 20 seconds remaining, Lu Wen shone behind the arc to secure the victory for China.

Cuba's Yamara Amargo contributed a game-high 29 points, while her teammate Marlene Cepeda scored 19 points.