Chinese women's national basketball team defeated the Bulleen Boomers from Australia 73-68 on Friday in Nanchang, Jiangxi Province, opening a three-game Challenge series that is to end next Tuesday in Beijing.

Ma Zengyu scored 24 points for China, which took the lead until early in the second quarter for 34-26 with an 8-0 run. Her teammate Zhang Wei and Guan Xin added 10 each.

China extended the lead to 51-40 with three minutes left in the third quarter but the Australians, who are second in the country's league competition, narrowed the gap several times and kept the margin within five points.

"They were strong physically and we were not that good in the beginning of the game," said Chinese coach Sun Fengwu. "However, we improved defense and rebounds, which helped our offense to win the game."

Lucy Dawson led the Australia with a game-high 28 points. The 18- year-old was a member of the Australian team which won the silver in the 2007 under-22 World Champoinship.

"She was very good and can score both inside and outside," Sun said. "We have to mark her closely in next game."

The Challenge series are serving as China's warmup for the 23rd FIBA Asian Championship in Chennai, a southern coastal city in India, which will be held on September 17-24.

The two sides will play their second game on Sunday in Xinyu, also in Jiangxi Province.

(Xinhua News Agency July 4, 2009)