are the first team in the FIBA Europe U20 European Championship for Women, Division A to qualify for the semi-final after beating Great Britain (68-37 ).
In a clinical display in rebounding Great Britain were handicapped from the start without a pivot due to the absence of Temitope Fagbenle.
The Russians had a (11-0) start and maintained a double digit lead throughout most of the game. They also used their height to their advantage bit did have problems with the British hustling which made them have a lot of turnovers.
Veronika Medvedeva and Alexandra Tarasova had 13 points each while Veronika Dorosheva scored 12 and Anastasiya Shilova finished with 10 points.
Russia are first to go through to the semi-finals
The Russians did not waste much time in imposing their mark in the game with Alexandra Tarasova getting to the foul line on the first opportunity.
Anastasiya Shilova and Evgeniya Finogentova (left) connected from the land of many as Russia opened the game 11-0.
Great Britain did not abduct and started to play aggressively. Despite picking up numerous fouls, with Renee Busch on 2 fouls, they finally got on the score board in conclusion to a fast break with 5:51 to play.
Great Britain's hustle saw them get onto the score sheet. Yet Russia maintained the control with another trey by Veronika Dorosheva and numerous trips to the free-throw line to lead (20-8) after the first quarter.
The Russians stepped on the accelerator to start the next quarter alternating their play to stretch their lead (29-12).
Great Britain had some luck with a Jessica Hurd turn-a-round shot that bounced along the rim forever before falling in. Unfortunately she missed the free throw afterwards.
On the very next attack Russia scorec with Yana Panevina storming down the middle and hitting a three-pointer. But Deanne Hayward answered with a drive to the basket for Great Britain(16-32).
Immediately after the Russian coach called a time-out with 4:28 to play.
The game went stale for a while as the smaller British players fought tooth and nail for everything while the Russians for once were missing their shots.
Ella Clark's trey from the top of the arc finally broke the two-minute dead lock. Yet Karina Nizamova came up with some excellent point guard play and drive switching hands to score.
The two teams traded scores to close the quarter with Russia going into the locker room leading (36-21).
Great Britain had a different approach to start the second half with a quick score by Clark. Tarasova then responded for Russia after holding the ball for at least 10 seconds.
Neither team was able to score as defense became the order of the day with players shooting at the limit of 24 seconds.
A fast break by Evgeniya Finogentova resulted in 2 easy points for Tarasova (right).
A quick exchange of baskets resulted in the Great Britain coaching staff calling for a time-out with 1:50 to play trailing (25-46).
No matter what Great Britain tried the Russians had an answer. With Viktoria Medvedeva hitting another trey the Russians were back in control. Despite a couple of points by Renee Busch from the free-throw line Russia led (49-27) going into the final quarter.
The Russians went into cruise control. With a 12-2 run they brought this game to an end leading (62-31) with four minutes left to play.
A Hurd trey was the highlight for Great Britain as Russia went to win (68-37).
Russia: Yana Panevina 3, Olga Sokolovskaya 0, Karina Nizamova 5, Elena Krivosheeva 0, Evgeniya Finogentova 3, Viktoria Medvedeva 13, Anastasiya Shilova 10, Victoria Solovyeva 2 (9 rebounds), Veronika Dorosheva 12, Ekaterina Averkina 2, Alexandra Tarasova 13, Evgenia Samorodova 5
Great Britain: Katrin Chiemeka 0, Erin Mc Garrachan 2, Deanne Hayward 7, Ella Clark 9, Renee Busch 4, Rebecca Allison 2, Josephine Salmon 0 (2 assists), Jessica Hurd 9, Kathryn Taylor 2, Kristie Sheils 2, Temitope Fagbenle DNP, Gemma Bullard 0
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Russia are the first team in the FIBA Europe U20 European Championship for Women, Division A to qualify for the semi-final after beating Great Britain (68-37 ).