China reaches first Women's Basketball World Cup semifinals in 28 years

SYDNEY - China got past France 85-71 here on Thursday to advance to the FIBA Women's Basketball World Cup semifinals for the first time in almost three decades.

Five Chinese players hit double digits in scoring, led by Li Meng's 23 points. Huang Sijing helped with 18.

The last time China reached the same stage was in 1994, when they finished runners-up at the formerly known FIBA World Championship for Women.

China has lost each of their previous three quarterfinal games at the quadrennial tournament, in 2002, 2014 and 2018, while showing its determination to shatter this unfriendly record from the start in Thursday's game.