France rebounds, beating Brazil 74-64 in women's basketball

RIO DE JANEIRO (AP) Reserve Sandrine Gruda scored 17 points and grabbed 10 rebounds to lead France to a 74-64 victory over host Brazil in women's basketball on Thursday.

France (3-1), which had lost control of Group A with an 18-point loss to Australia, missed its first five shots against Brazil (0-4). The Brazilians opened up a seven-point lead, much to the delight of the raucous home crowd that was clapping and chanting to the end.

But France finally started hitting shots, including a 3-pointer from Amel Bouderra at the end of the first quarter, tying the game at 20. And with the Brazilians missing layups, France took its first lead at 31-29 on a Gruda jumper in the paint, the first of six straight points and took a 35-29 halftime lead.

France extended its lead to 14 in the third, and Brazil never got closer than nine the rest of the game.

Gaelle Skrela scored 18 points for France.

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