Meesseman sends Belgium to quarterfinals: 22 points, 10 rebounds and a precious fourth-quarter surge

Belgium entered the fourth quarter with a five-point lead over Australia, then used an 11-2 run to open the period and build a double-digit advantage. Emma Meesseman finished with 22 points and 10 rebounds, leading Belgium to an 80-68 win that secured first place in Group C and a direct ticket to Thursday's quarterfinals. Australia could not recover from the decisive run. Belgium, the reigning European champions, stayed composed, shifted defensive intensity and turned a tight game into a controlled finish. The box score shows a 12-point margin, but the real gap appeared in the first minutes of the fourth quarter. Puerto Rico also won a key game, beating Turkey 75-71. Arella Guirantes scored 21 points and made two clutch free throws in the closing seconds. Puerto Rico is not yet in the quarterfinals; the team will enter a playoff, facing the winner between Italy and China. Belgium now has extra rest before the knockout round. The team's ability to execute a momentum surge at the right moment may prove more valuable than the final margin. Meesseman's 22-point, 10-rebound double-double gives Belgium a solid foundation, but the quarterfinals will demand more than one star performance. Puerto Rico still needs consistency, especially from Guirantes, to turn a narrow win into a deep tournament run.