BANGKOK (FIBA U19 World Championship for Women) - Allison Vernerey did the damage early and Pauline Thizy gave the finish touches to help France post an 89-47 triumph over Korea in the Group A opener on Thursday.

Vernerey's 195cm-tall presence had a telling effect on the Korean defense - at least psychologically - and she scored seven of her 14 points in the first five minutes of the game as France seized the initiative.

In addition, Vernerey led the game in rebounds collecting eight boards as France out-rebounded their rivals 34-28.

France pulled ahead with a 7-0 run midway through the first quarter and never looked back.

Thizy came into her own in the second half, scoring nine of her 14 points in the latter half, to share the scoring honours for the game with Vernerey.

Korea, on the other hand, withered as France blossomed.

The outside scoring, a hallmark of any Korean team, was woefully inadequate as the East Asian nation managed only a 5/20 record in the three-pointers.

And with the most important weapon in their armory misfiring, Korea ended playing catch up for most of their game.

FIBA