Paris - The Cuban female basketball team has reached the quarterfinals of the Pre-Olympic Tournament of Basketball in Nantes, France, defeating New Zealand 64-62 in Group A.

The victory brings them one step closer to competing in the Olympic Games in Rio de Janeiro this August.

Cuban player Oyanaisis Gelis headed the Cuban attack, scoring 16 points, three rebounds and three assists, followed by Marlen Cepeda and Ineidis Casanova with 11 points each.

New Zealand had its best player in Jillian Harmon, who scored 25 points and 14 rebounds, a great performance which did not stop her team from losing the match.

Cuba made its debut in the pre-tournament with a defeat (67-83) against the French team, who were silver medalists in London 2012.

Cuba finished second in Group A, behind France, while New Zealand will be eliminated.

In other matches, South Korea defeated Belarus 66-65 in Group C and Spain won against Venezuela (83-55) in Group D.

The contest assembles 12 teams and will grant five tickets to the Olympics.

Thursday is a day of rest and on Friday the quarter finals will begin, Cubans will play the winner of Group B, probably Turkey.

The last participation of Cuba in the women's basketball tournament in the Olympic Games was in Sydney 2000.