Italy and Ukraine qualify for EuroBasket Women 2009

Italy on the way to EuroBasket Women 2009

In front of a capacity crowd and a live TV audience, the Italian players were under the spotlight.

Belgium found it difficult at the start of the match and allowed their hosts to open up (11-4).

It took Belgium five minutes to find their feet. A three-pointer by Laurence Van Malderen settled their nerves.

Italy were able to remain in control as Simona Ballardini was active for Italy on both sides of the court.

However Italy were unable to open up a gap and led (18-16) by the end of the first period.

Italy went to work right at the start of the second period with Ballardini and Laura Macchi to open the first significant lead of the game (27-17).

Belgium's problems mounted up with Van Malderen having to take a break after picking up her third foul with only 15 minutes played.

The Italians took full advantage to stretch their lead (35-21). Despite the efforts of Raffaella Masciadri for Italy, Belgium recovered slightly reducing their deficit to 8 points by the interval (40-32).

Sara Leemans was on fire at the start of the third period and Italy's lead was reduced to 2 points (44-42) with just over 90 seconds played.

Italy always found a resource when they were in trouble. It was the turn of Eva Giauro to come to the rescue with back to back baskets.

Once Masciadri fired in a shot from the land of many to complete a 9-0 run it appeared that it was all over for Belgium (53-42).Arvid Diels, the Belgium head coach, called for a time-out.

He made some changes to his line-up. However nothing changed and Italy stretched their advantage (64-46) by the end of the third period.

Italy ended the game as a contest within three minutes of the fourth quarter (70-46).

They then took their foot off the accelerator allowing Belgium to come right back into the game. Yet the last score came from Masciadri as she fired her third three-pointer of the night for Italy to win (75-64).

For Italy Ballardina and Masciadri finished with 18 points each.

For Belgium Van Malderen, who is playing for Aix-en-Provence in the LFB, led the scoring with 15 points. Leemans, playing for Calais, finished with 13 points.

Two other players finished in double digits: Sofie Hendrickx with 11 points and 9 rebounds and Jana Rana with 10 points.

EuroBasket Women 2009 Relegation News

Sarah Naylor catalyst for Great Britain

Matea Tavic (left) was in a hurry for Bosnia and Herzegovina as she scored her team's first 5 points.

However she was not alone in the scoring as Sarah McKay scored 4 points for Great Britain.

Bosnia took full advantage of playing at home to lead early on (9-4).

Great Britain weathered the early storm and were soon back on level terms with 5 points which included a trey by Stefanie Collins (9-9).

McKay completed Great Britain's 7-0 sequence with a simple tip-in after a nice pass by Lisa Hutchinson to briefly lead (11-9).

Great Britain were unable to build on their momentum allowing Tavic and Anja Stupar to run riot and allow the hosts to regain the upper hand (17-12).

Rosalee Mason came to the rescue of Great Britain as she shot 4-of-4 from the free-throw line.

Her second trip to the free-throw line was after she forced Irena Vrancic into losing the ball and then pushing Tavic into committing an unsportsmanlike foul.

Yet Bosnia still led (17-16) at the end of the first period.

The start of the second period was littered with turnover after turnover from both sides as the two teams struggled to find any rhythm.

Bosnia just threw caution to the wind. After a trey from Natasa Mikic the home side increased their lead (24-19) after 13 minutes.

Mark Clark decided to restore some discipline and order in the Great Britain approach that resulted in his side eventually drawing level after Hutchinson and Mason made trips to the free-throw line (24-24).

McKay's (right) return to action for Great Britain restored some hight. She was the only player to score from the field as both teams made frequent trips to the free-throw line with Bosnia holding on to the advantage (29-28).

Stupar and McKay exchanged the rear field goal in the last minute before Hutchinson split a pair of free-throws to level the score at the interval (31-31).

Bosnia finished the second period with 5-of-8 from the land of many while Great Britain went 2-of-6.

Bosnia continued their assault on Great Britain to regain the lead and to open a little gap (38-33).

With McKay and Collins in foul problems Great Britain were forced to make some tactical changes.

The result was dramatic as Great Britain fired in 6 quick points as Kim Butler, Kristy Lavin and Sally Kaznica scored within 30 seconds to put the visitors in front (39-38).

Great Britain stretched their advantage (42-38) before being brought down to earth by a shot from down-town by Mikic and Maja Lokmic to put the hosts back in front (44-42).

The last 3 ½ minutes of the third period witnessed two lead changes before Great Britain took command with Sarah Naylor (left) and Butler firing in from the land of many (54-49).

The scoring stopped as both teams stepped up in defense to close the third period.

Naylor appeared to be the catalyst Great Britain required as she got her side going at the start of the final period with 4 quick points.

Bosnia also had problems in containing McKay and suffered a 19-2 hammering to bring an end to the contest (73-51) with five minutes left to play.

Bosnia did not give up completely and prevented their guests from scoring for almost four minutes while scoring 8 points.

Great Britain went on to win (77-61) with double-doubles from McKay (20 points and 12 rebounds) and Butler (15 points and 10 rebounds).

Naylor was the only other player in double digits with 10 points. Colomier's Mason scored all her points from the free-throw line 7-8.

For Bosnia Stupar scored 16 points and took 12 rebounds. Alma Kovacevic scored 15 points and Tavic finished with 10 points

Great Britain's EuroBasket Women 2009 relegation battle is not over yet with Finland having beaten Romania.

Yet Great Britain must win in Romania and hope that Bosnia beat Finland to be certain to maintain Division A status.

However if Great Britain and Finland win in the last game, then a calculator may be required as they will level with Romania in a three-way tie.