BERLIN (AP) \u2014 Host Germany advanced to the quarterfinals of the women\u2019s FIBA World Cup with a morale-boosting 94-56 rout of South Korea on Tuesday, and the United States learned its next opponent.<\/p>\n
Hungary, which beat Japan 84-63, will play the four-time defending champion U.S. on Thursday.<\/p>\n
Germany captain Marie G\u00fclich led her team to a quarterfinal against European champion Belgium with 19 points and five rebounds. Frieda B\u00fchner contributed 17 points.<\/p>\n
Lee Hae-ran led South Korea with 21 points on a night her team never had a lead.<\/p>\n
Every German score elicited huge cheers from the appreciative home fans at the Berlin Arena, particularly in the first half. Germany led by 17 points at halftime.<\/p>\n
The players danced as fans jumped up and down to blaring music after the game.<\/p>\n
The home support could play a pivotal role. Germany seems to be gathering momentum after losing its first group game by 30 points to Spain<\/a>. It rebounded with a 74-58 win over Japan and followed with an 83-58 win<\/a> over Mali.<\/p>\n \u201cIt makes a huge difference for us because when we\u2019re tired, when we need that extra push, when maybe a shot\u2019s not falling or the other team goes on a run, when we can have that crowd motivation and that support to cheer us on and they\u2019re outside the hotel and they are waiting for us, it\u2019s a big part of home court advantage for sure,\u201d Alexis Peterson told The Associated Press.<\/p>\n Hungary eliminates Japan<\/p>\n R\u00e9ka Lelik led Hungary with 23 points and eight rebounds in a surprisingly comfortable win over Japan earlier.<\/p>\n Vir\u00e1g Tak\u00e1cs-Kiss also had eight rebounds and added 17 points for Hungary, which will face the U.S. in the early quarterfinal slot Thursday.<\/p>\n \u201cIt feels incredible. It\u2019s been 40 years since we went to the quarterfinals and I still can\u2019t believe it,\u201d Lelik said.<\/p>\n The game was overshadowed by a serious injury to Japan shooting guard Saki Hayashi<\/a>, who went off with what looked a broken right arm after an awkward fall.<\/p>\n Hayashi needed immediate medical attention a foul in the air from Agnes Torok with just over a minute left in the second quarter. A blue tarp was provided to give her privacy and fans responded with applause when she was led off.<\/p>\n Japan connected on only seven 3-pointers Tuesday. The Japanese had set a record with 20 three-pointers in a World Cup game<\/a> on Friday before France broke it with 22<\/a> on Monday.<\/p>\n Ramu Tokashiki’s two free throws drew Japan level at 34-34, but that was as close as it got. Agnes Studer responded with a 3-pointer to give Hungary a 37-34 lead at halftime.<\/p>\n \u201cThey hit their open shots, we missed our open shots,\u201d Japan coach Corey Gaines said.<\/p>\n Hungary finished 11 of 25 from beyond the arc on the first of two days off for the U.S., which qualified directly for the quarterfinals as a group winner.<\/p>\n \u201cI\u2019m excited to play the very best players in the world, the best team in the word,\u201d Lelik said of Thursday’s game. \u201cI never got the opportunity to play against them. So I\u2019m just very excited how it\u2019s going to be. And we\u2019re going to do everything for sure. But besides that, I want us to enjoy the game.\u201d<\/p>\n Still two places up for grabs<\/p>\n All the quarterfinals are scheduled for Thursday. Spain and France await the winners of Wednesday\u2019s playoffs between Italy-Australia and China-Puerto Rico, respectively.<\/p>\n