TAIYUAN, April 19 (Xinhua) -- Sichuan dominated the third quarter in a 75-53 victory over Shanxi in the 2025-26 Women's Chinese Basketball Association (WCBA) finals on Sunday to take a 2-1 lead in the best-of-five series.

Sichuan produced a 15-0 run in the final four minutes of the third quarter and outscored Shanxi 25-10 in the period to open a 19-point lead heading into the final quarter.

Shanxi went scoreless for six minutes spanning the third and fourth quarters, seeing its hopes of a comeback slip away.

Elizabeth Cambage led Sichuan with 29 points and 10 rebounds, making 15 of 16 free throws. Natasha Howard and Jia Saiqi added 11 and 10 points, respectively.

Sichuan won the WCBA title in the 2022-23 and 2023-24 seasons.

Defense took center stage in the first quarter, which featured a series of fouls and free throws, as Shanxi built a 12-11 lead.

The hosts took the initiative early in the second period, with Song Kexin completing a three-point play and Shakira Austin hitting the first three-pointer of the game. Austin's layup put Shanxi five points ahead before Arike Ogunbowale led Sichuan back into contention with consecutive baskets. Sichuan led 30-26 at halftime.

Zhang Ru, who made a clutch shot in Shanxi's win in the previous game, scored five straight points after the break, while Cambage kept Sichuan in contention and teammates Gao Song, Wang Siyu and Li Yuan followed to make it 40-33. Standing 2.03 meters tall, Cambage dominated the paint, converting consecutive three-point plays to help Sichuan build a double-digit lead.

Shanxi never got closer than 14 points in the fourth quarter.

Austin posted a double-double of 16 points and 14 rebounds, becoming the only Shanxi player to score in double figures.

"They played really good defense, and they were very physical. We tried as hard as we could on the court. Offensively, the first quarter was OK, and we executed a little bit better in the fourth quarter," said Shanxi coach Mika Haakana.

Sichuan will host Shanxi in Game 4 on Wednesday.

Looking ahead to a potential title-clinching game on home court, Sichuan coach Frederic Dusart remained cool-headed.

"We have to be ready. Nothing is done. We have 40 minutes away," he said. "It's just a short joy for us. We know what happened between Game 1 and Game 2, we have to be smart and use this." ■