Bayi women's basketball team stole the home-court advantage as it crashed defending champion Liaoning in Game 1 of the final of the Chinese Women's Basketball Association league (WCBA) on Tuesday in Anshan, North China.

 

Five matches will be played in the series for the first time with Bayi having two consecutive home games to go on Game 2 and Game 3.

 

Liaoning lost Game 1 but rallied to win the next two at home to win the title last season when the final series was decided by three games.

 

Chen Nan led Bayi with 29 points and 11 rebounds while Sui Feifei had 19 points.

 

Liaoning, which is seeking for a three-beat in the final, was held to 15-out-of-42 in the field and was beaten up 44-26 on the board.

 

"I didn't expect to win 18 rebounds. We controlled the ball well." Bayi's coach Fan Bin said. "Chen Nan, Sui Feifei and the veterans all came out and encouraged the team to go for one of the best matches."

 

"We lost 18 rebounds, which means we lost at least 18 points even they conquered just half of the attacking chances. Bayi is a higher and stronger team, but we lose too many on the board," Liaoning's coach Li Guangqi.

 

Ji Xiao led Liaoning with 20 points while Ma Zengyu adding 17.

 

Sui set the tone of the game as she scored eight points to give the visiting team a 21-11 lead at the start.

 

National team's pivot Chen Nan picked up the attack when she entered the game in the second quarter, shooting 12-out-of-16 in the field in 30 minutes.

 

(Xinhua News Agency February 20, 2008)