Germany routs South Korea to advance to women's FIBA World Cup quarterfinals. Hungary to play US

BERLIN (AP) — Host Germany advanced to the quarterfinals of the women’s FIBA World Cup with a morale-boosting 94-56 rout of South Korea on Tuesday, and the United States learned its next opponent.

Hungary, which beat Japan 84-63, will play the four-time defending champion U.S. on Thursday.

Germany captain Marie Gülich led her team to a quarterfinal against European champion Belgium with 19 points and five rebounds. Frieda Bühner contributed 17 points.

Lee Hae-ran led South Korea with 21 points on a night her team never had a lead.

Every German score elicited huge cheers from the appreciative home fans at the Berlin Arena, particularly in the first half. Germany led by 17 points at halftime.

The players danced as fans jumped up and down to blaring music after the game.

The home support could play a pivotal role. Germany seems to be gathering momentum after losing its first group game by 30 points to Spain. It rebounded with a 74-58 win over Japan and followed with an 83-58 win over Mali.

“It makes a huge difference for us because when we’re tired, when we need that extra push, when maybe a shot’s not falling or the other team goes on a run, when we can have that crowd motivation and that support to cheer us on and they’re outside the hotel and they are waiting for us, it’s a big part of home court advantage for sure,” Alexis Peterson told The Associated Press.

Hungary eliminates Japan

Réka Lelik led Hungary with 23 points and eight rebounds in a surprisingly comfortable win over Japan earlier.

Virág Takács-Kiss also had eight rebounds and added 17 points for Hungary, which will face the U.S. in the early quarterfinal slot Thursday.

“It feels incredible. It’s been 40 years since we went to the quarterfinals and I still can’t believe it,” Lelik said.

The game was overshadowed by a serious injury to Japan shooting guard Saki Hayashi, who went off with what looked a broken right arm after an awkward fall.

Hayashi needed immediate medical attention a foul in the air from Agnes Torok with just over a minute left in the second quarter. A blue tarp was provided to give her privacy and fans responded with applause when she was led off.

Japan connected on only seven 3-pointers Tuesday. The Japanese had set a record with 20 three-pointers in a World Cup game on Friday before France broke it with 22 on Monday.

Ramu Tokashiki's two free throws drew Japan level at 34-34, but that was as close as it got. Agnes Studer responded with a 3-pointer to give Hungary a 37-34 lead at halftime.

“They hit their open shots, we missed our open shots,” Japan coach Corey Gaines said.

Hungary finished 11 of 25 from beyond the arc on the first of two days off for the U.S., which qualified directly for the quarterfinals as a group winner.

“I’m excited to play the very best players in the world, the best team in the word,” Lelik said of Thursday's game. “I never got the opportunity to play against them. So I’m just very excited how it’s going to be. And we’re going to do everything for sure. But besides that, I want us to enjoy the game.”

Still two places up for grabs

All the quarterfinals are scheduled for Thursday. Spain and France await the winners of Wednesday’s playoffs between Italy-Australia and China-Puerto Rico, respectively.

___

See AP’s full WNBA coverage here