After the difficult victory against Puerto Rico, an opponent presented himself on Monday who had beaten Belgium in the past 2 confrontations. But the team of naturalized WNBA champion Jonquel Jones is only a shadow of the team against which the Cats lost 2 times last year.
Bosnia had already lost its first 3 matches at this World Cup and also had to undergo the law of the strongest against Belgium. Jones was completely in the grip of the strong defense and also in attack it turned more than properly on the Belgian side.
In a fine 1st half it was mainly Julie Vanloo who made her mark offensively. At halftime, the spirit had already sunk in the Bosnian shoes, with a difference of 15 points on the scoreboard: 37-22.
With the support of, among others, brand new cycling world champion Remco Evenepoel in the hall, the Belgian Cats continued on their momentum after the break. Linskens and Ben Abdelkader now also started to score and as the gap widened, the national coach was able to give his basic players a rest.
That rest was forced for Emma Meesseman, because the Belgian top player disappeared to the bench early in the 2nd half after she felt something in her calf. Meesseman will have another scan today to determine the seriousness of the injury.
But even without Meesseman, the Cats easily held their ground. The substitutes guided the team to a big victory: 85-55. Belgium is now certain of a place in the quarterfinals. With a win against strong China, the Cats can even become 2nd in the group tomorrow, as it may be advantageous for the draw of the quarterfinals.
In the meantime, a candle may be lit for Emma Meesseman. The Belgian strongman scores less this World Cup, but excels especially in team play and is still an indispensable link for the team. A serious injury for Meesseman would mean a great damper for the Belgian Cats.
Belgium: Ben Abdelkader 18, Linskens 13, Vanloo 13, Allemand 7, Delaere 6, Lisowa 6, Becky Massey 6, Billie Massey 5, Meesseman 4, Ramette 2, Resimont 5, Joris 0
