WUHAN - A slow start led to China's 80-65 loss to Belgium, while Kamilla Cardoso had a big double-double in Brazil's 94-79 victory over South Sudan in FIBA Women's World Cup qualifiers here on Thursday.

After scoring 11 points in the opening quarter, China went without a point for four and a half minutes entering the second period and never truly recovered from that.

Compared to Wednesday's opening win over Mali, China made one change to its starting lineup, with Li Yueru replacing Chen Mingling to form the "twin towers" with Han Xu.

Belgium made its first 3-pointers for a 9-2 lead. Starting point guard Zhang Manman hit China's opening shot from beyond the arc, and towering teenager Zhang Ziyu soon made her impact felt, but Belgium still took the initiative and led 21-11 as the first quarter expired.

Belgium extended its lead to 24 points in the second quarter, with Julie Vanloo and Emma Meesseman combining for 17 of their team's 19 points down the stretch.

Coming off the bench again, Zhang scored 10 points, including a late basket which helped China trim the deficit within 14 points at halftime.

China continued clawing back into contention after the break, pulling within single digits through consecutive inside plays by Han, Li and Zhang. However, their comeback attempts were denied by Belgium, who sank late 3-pointers and carried a 61-45 lead entering the final frame.

Belgium continued its shooting groove afterwards, leaving little room for China's comeback.

Belgium forward Antonia Delaere made seven 3-pointers for a game-high 27 points.

"This game is very meaningful for our team. Belgium is a world-class, top-level team, and playing against a very strong team in the world is a very good learning lesson for us," said China coach Gong Luming.

"We also enjoy watching our opponents play. Basketball can be really artistic, so I told my players that we should learn from them and also try to play basketball like an art," he added.

Despite the defeat, Zhang had one of the highlight moments on the international stage in her young career, going 10-of-15 from the field for 20 points and 11 rebounds.

"Everybody around the world knows she is an up-and-coming player. Because of her size, she has made a great impression with her nice touch around the basket. She is a lot of work for our defenders," commented Belgium coach Mike Thibault on Zhang's performance.

Cardoso, now playing for Dongguan in China's women's basketball league, registered 23 points and 17 rebounds. Her teammate Damiris Dantas led the way with scored 25 points.

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South Sudan made four of its first six 3-pointers but trailed 22-16 at the end of the first quarter.

In a more physical second quarter featuring more fouls and free throws, South Sudan's outside shooting percentage began dropping, and Brazil maintained a six-point lead at the interval.

Brazil took the first double-digit lead early in the third quarter after Alana Goncalo's 3-pointer, with the lead growing to as many as 17 points.

South Sudan clawed its way back in the final period, trimming the deficit within eight points through Adut Bulgak's shot from beyond the arc with eight minutes remaining. After a timeout, Brazil responded with an 8-0 run and fended off South Sudan's late charge.

South Sudan coach Alberto Antuna looks forward to the upcoming game against China on Saturday.

"Facing China in China is going to be amazing. We are going to face some of the best players in the world. It's going to be a big experience, and we are going to put team China into trouble and enjoy the game," he said.

After recovering from its opening loss to Belgium to secure the win, Brazil coach Pokey Chatman emphasized the "mental shift" down the stretch.

"It was an extremely exceptional game for us in terms of back-to-back opponents," she noted. "We played a strong Belgium team yesterday. That was a tough man-to-man. We turned around 24 hours later and played a South Sudan team that was a really tough, long and zone offensive team. We have that mental shift. It wasn't two or three players, it was so many players who had moments during the game."

Also on Thursday, Mali led most of the game on the way to a 77-64 victory over the Czech Republic.

Trailing by as many as 24 points, the Czech Republic pulled within 66-58 midway through the fourth quarter but could not get closer afterwards.

Mali's Maimouna Haidara scored a game-high 24 points. Her teammates Alima Dembele and Kamite Elisabeth Dabou had 15 and 14 points, respectively.

Belgium leads Group A with two wins from as many matches, while Mali, China, the Czech Republic and Brazil all take one win and one loss. South Sudan sits bottom with two consecutive losses.