McGee-Stafford's double-double not enough as Belgium wins
Imani McGee-Stafford delivered a dominant performance with 25 points and 13 rebounds, yet it wasn't enough to prevent Puerto Rico's 64-76 defeat against Belgium at the FIBA Women's World Cup.
Belgium established an early lead in the first quarter, outscoring Puerto Rico 20-13, and carried that momentum into halftime, holding an eight-point advantage at 40-32.
Despite McGee-Stafford's double-double and Trinity San Antonio's seven assists, Puerto Rico struggled to close the gap. Belgium, fueled by a sharp 42% three-point shooting (15/36) and a substantial 29 points from their bench, maintained an eight-point lead entering the final period (58-50).
Belgium ultimately sealed the win, extending their lead to 12 points by the final buzzer. Maxuella Lisowa Mbaka's 16 points off the bench and Julie Vanloo's 15 points were pivotal for the Belgian victory, which also featured a superior assist count of 21 compared to Puerto Rico's 14. This win provides significant momentum for Belgium in the tournament.