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2020 Olympics: Belgium blows out Puerto Rico 87-52 in second group play match

Emma Meesseman scored 26 points, grabbed 15 rebounds and dished 6 assists!

By Albert Lee
BASKETBALL-OLY-2020-2021-TOKYO-BEL-PUR
Of course, Emma Meesseman was going to be the focal point of the Puerto Rican defense. Needless to say, the Belgian Cats won!
Photo by THOMAS COEX/AFP via Getty Images

The Belgium women’s national basketball team beat Puerto Rico on Friday morning (Japanese time) in Tokyo, 87-52.

This game was a rout from the start as the Belgian Cats held the Puerto Ricans to 25 percent shooting with a 43-24 halftime lead. Washington Mystics forward Emma Meesseman wasn’t the super dominant scoring force in the beginning she was in their first game against Australia, because she didn’t have to.

Instead, it was Hanne Mestdagh who scored 12 of her 18 points in those first 20 minutes. Still, Meesseman finished the day with 26 points, 15 rebound and 6 assists. She is playing like a woman possessed, a woman on am mission.

She doesn’t just want to have a chance at a medal. Meesseman wants the Gold Medal!

In addition to Meesseman, Kim Mestdagh added 15 points and Indiana Fever guard Julie Allemand added 10 more.

For Puerto Rico, Jazmon Gwathmey scored 20 points and had 5 rebounds. Puerto Rico was ultimately held to 24 percent shooting and was outrebounded, 54-33. That says something about Belgium, because it’s not uncommon for teams to let up on the pressure once a game is decided. This contest just wasn’t the case.

Case in point? Emma was on the floor for 31 minutes in this one.

Belgium’s last game is against China on Monday, Aug. 2 at 4:20 a.m. ET.