The much anticipated semifinals finally got underway after the break for New Year’s. The two games could not have turned out differently even though both were quite exciting. Candace Parker and Guandong hosted Tina Charles and Xinjiang in a game that surpassed the 100 point mark for both teams! The visitors from Xinjiang came away with the win in overtime 117-113. Candace Parker nearly scored 50 and got some help from teammate Huang Sijing but those two alone could not carry the load. Instead, it was Tina Charles and Peng Shiqing that had more teammates step up to provide balance, giving the upstarts a big advantage before the series shifts far to China’s northwest. The other game had far fewer fireworks. Sylvia Fowles had the expected big scoring game for Beijing, but Elizabeth Cambage did not get as many shots for Shanghai, instead providing opportunities for her teammates to score to grab a 68-66 win at home with a spirited second half.
February 16, 2016
Guangdong vs. Xinjiang 113-117 (OT) GD Parker 48/7r Huang 31/10r XJ Charles 30/15r Peng 25/9r
Shanghai vs. Beijing 68-66 SH Shi 17 Lin 15 Huang 13 Cambage 11/10r BJ Fowles 28/6r Zhang 11/7r