Poland have the upper hand

Poland pushed the ball around from the tip-off with Dorota Mistygacz scoring from the first attack. The Polish girls had the spring in their legs and with Magdalena Zietara and Malgorzata Misiuk scoring they led (6-0) with just over two minutes played.

France worked an opening for Isabelle Strunc who right in front of the basket from beyond hit a trey. Then Strunc struck again seconds later with a lay-up.

However Poland weathered the storm and stretched the advantage to (14-6) with good alternative play, inside outside variations with (3:41) to play.

France changed tactics and Touty Gandega and Clémentine Samson were actually on the court at the same time.

The fireworks started with both players involved as France came storming back to finish the first quarter level (15-15).

All tactic were thrown out of the window as both teams went on the offensive.

Poland hit clutch three-pointers with Zietara and Marta Mistygacz scoring while France had to rely on the steady hand of Samson.

All the same Poland's ability to change their strategy meant a switch to the inside which gave Agata Szczepanik a chance to score for Poland (27-21).

France turned over the ball from the inbound after the time-out but had the luck that Ondaye-Akoa Elenga was able to make something out of nothing to get a foul with 2.2 seconds to play. She hit both free throws.

Poland went into the locker room leading (27-23).

The two did teams did not waste much time after the break as they traded baskets early. However Poland gained the upper hand with a running tree-ball by Joanna Markiewicz.

Despite the efforts of Hhadydia Minte, France found themselves trailing (27-38) midway through the quarter.

The battle in the paint became more and more hard while Poland were getting the luck as they moved 12 points clear (44-32) after an AND-1 by Paulina Kuras with 2:38 remaining to play.

France, already without Kelly Corre, were to lose Strunc who ended up crashing against the cushions of the basket posts again. She picked herself up and somehow reached her end of the court before crashing to the ground.

Poland scored once more before the end of the quarter (46-32).

A trey quickly followed by a fast break lay-up by Zietara (51-32) knocked out France.

France's coaching staff used a time-out and managed to stopped the leakage. Linda Bousbaa drove to the basket which was soon followed by a Samson three ball.

Poland still held on to the advantage leading (53-39) with 3:57 to play. Elenga had to be substituted after the ball hit her at the back of the head after contesting an offensive rebound.

Poland have just put themselves on the way to the semi-final after a massive three by Magdalena Zietara, which was quickly followed with 2 points by Agnieszka Sniezek (58-39).

The last minutes resulted in a three-point festival by France but it was too late for a comeback.

France: Touty Gandega 11, Princesse Goubo DNP, Ondaye-Akoa Elenga 4, Linda Bousbaa 3, Isabelle Strunc 5, Clémentine Samson 16, Hhadydia Minte 8 (14 rebounds), Morgiane Eustache 0, Manon Morel 0, Chloe Westelynck 0, Sophie Le Marrec 0, Kelly Corre DNP

Poland: Magdalena Zietara 19, Martyna Cebulska 2, Magdalena Idziorek 2, Joanna Markiewicz 7, Monika Jasnowska 0, Dorota Mistygacz 4, Paulina Kuras 10, Marta Mistygacz 3, Agnieszka Sniezek 4, Marzena Marciniak 1, Agata Szczepanik 2, Malgorzata Misiuk 8