BEIJING, Dec. 26 (Xinhua) -- Both defending champion Dongguan and runner-up Beijing scored their commanding victories on Thursday to keep their title race closely after the 15th round of the Women's Chinese Basketball Association (WCBA).
Dongguan who suffered its first defeat of the season on Saturday to Beijing, led Hebei from the very beginning en route to its 88-58 home win, as Aerial Powers had 18 points and Guard Yang Liwei added 12, while Yang Xiaojie and Huang Pinzhen scored 11 points apiece for Hebei.
Beijing, tied Dongguan with the same 14-1 record but sat second due to an inferior point difference, smashed Fujian 107-70 on the road.
Beijing made the best of Fujian's 13 turnovers to score 23 points and gained an upper hand in the paint 52-36. Forward Qi Yu scored a team-high 23 points while center Teaira McCowan had a double-double of 22 points and 11 rebounds. Kelsey Renee Bone scored 33 points for Fujian in vain.
In another match-up on Thursday, Elizabeth Cambage had a monstrous 56 points to power Shanxi past Sichuan 84-82 at home. Cheyenne Parker and Chen Yanyu scored 25 and 22 points respectively for the visitors.
Shanxi squandered its 15-point advantage in the first quarter, trailing by 65-63 by the end of the third quarter. But Cambage rose to the occasion, scoring 16 points in Shanxi's 21-17 last period performance and Liu Jiacen's free throw clinched the victory for the hosts 84-82.
Elsewhere, Henan still needed more efforts for its first win of the season, losing to Xinjiang 91-46 at home. Shanghai smashed Daqing 105-67, Bayi eased past Tianjin 99-77, Jiangsu routed Wuhan 97-69, Zhejiang defeated Shaanxi 90-83 and Shandong beat Inner Mongolia 85-79.
