Eurobasket Women - Greece qualify for the quarter-final



Pokey Chatman and the Slovak Republic staff at EuroBasket Women2009 © womensbasketball-in-france.com

There was plenty of drama in the final day of EuroBasket Women Group E play.

Greece held off the Slovak Republic in a dramatic finish to win (59-57).

As a result of Poland losing to the Czech Republic (68-82), Greece have qualified for the quarter-final.

Anna Montañana scored 25 points as Spain powered past Latvia in the final period to win (67-60).

Spain are the winners of Group E, while the Slovak Republic finished second. Latvia and Greece are third and fourth respectively.

The Czech Republic and Poland finished in fifth and sixth place.

Pelagia Papamichail from Greece and Lucia Lásková from the Slovak Republic speak in English about the EuroBasket Women matches played so far in the audio after match comment section in the game highlight section.

You can read more about the games of interest by clicking on the following links or scrolling down the page:

Slovak Republic 57-59 Lithuania

Poland 68-82 Czech Republic

Latvia 60-67 Spain


Greece qualify for EuroBasket Women quarter-final

Slovak Republic and Greece at EuroBasket Women2009 © womensbasketball-in-france.com

The only highlight during the first four minutes of play came 90 seconds into the game when Jana Carnoká from the Slovak Republic raced back to block Styliani Kaltsidou from laying up. The Slovak Republic turned the ball over six times in five minutes. Then they conceded back to back baskets from Pelagia Papamichail (5-8). So Pokey Chatman called for a time-out. Martina Gyurcsi warming up uring EuroBasket Women2009 against Spain © womensbasketball-in-france.comThe Slovak Republic changed their approach afterwards with Martina Gyurcsi (left) setting up for a trey. However Greece replied immediately with a trey by Dimitra Kalentzou. The two teams then exchanged baskets for the rest of the quarter with the lead changing every time somebody scored with Greece edging the contest (17-16). The Slovak Republic were doing a good job on keeping Evanthia Maltsi from behind the arc. But they had trouble stopping Kalentzou and Zoi Dimitrakou from scoring from the land of many. However a trey from Zuzana Zirková and then back to back baskets from Lucia Lásková allowed them to regain the lead. The game became more lively with a quick exchange of baskets including a second trey by Zirková for the Slovak Republic to lead (30-27) with five minutes played in the second period. Defense became the order of the day for the rest of the quarter as scoring became more difficult. The Slovak Republic went into the interval in front (36-33). The first three minutes of the third period were difficult for both teams offensively as the ball just refused to drop in the basket. Evanthia Maltsi on the run against the Slovak Republic during EuroBasket Women2009  © womensbasketball-in-france.comWith almost three minutes played Katarina Hrickova managed to score a basket for the Slovak Republic. Maltsi replied immediately for Greece with a lay-up. She then popped up 90 seconds later for her first three-pointer of the game to level the score (38-38) with almost five minutes played in the third quarter. Maltsi was to put Greece back in front with another shot from the land of many (41-40). This set-up put a frantic end to the third quarter in which Greece managed to hold on to the advantage (46-43). Lásková brought the teams level for the fifth time with a trey from the top of the arc with a minute played in the final period. A minute later Greece were back in front as Maltsi fired in her third trey of the game. Maltsi was then on fire and scored another three-pointer from NBA distance. This inspired her team-mates as they started to play better defensively. Afterwards Pelagia Papamichail getting the ball away from Gyurcsi to score (54-48). Pokey Chatman immediately called for a time-out and reorganised her players. The game became more intense as both sides pushed themselves to their physical limit. With two minutes remaining Greece led by a single point (58-57). The game went down to the very last second as Greece used up their last 24 seconds before finding Kaltsidou who took the shot that bounced off the ring. Luckily Papamichail picked up the rebound and was fouled. There were still 3.1 seconds to play and the Greece coach called for a time-out. Greece used up some more time before Kalentzou was fouled. She hit the first free-throw but missed the second one. Kupcikova picked up the defensive rebound and then threw the ball from one end of the court to the other and just missed the target. Greece survived (59-57). Maltsi was once again top scorer with 22 points for Greece.

EuroBasket Women 2009 Box Scores.

EuroBasket Women 2009 audio after match comments PelagiaPapamichail at EuroBasket Women 2009 © womensbasketball-in-france Pelagia Papamichail was pleased with the victory for Greece despite the low score. She explained it was a tight game and that they played tough and once they had the lead at the end she knew they could win. They had to defend well, which was what they did and they demonstrated they were a good team. She finished the interview on discussing the losses in the first round of EuroBasket Women, with the qualification for the quarter-final depending then on other results.



Lucia Lásková playing basketball in Riga Latvia for EuroBasket WOmen 2009 ©Castoria Fiba Europe

Lucia Lásková, who played last season in France with Roche Vendée, is happy to be at Eurobasket Women despite the defeat in this match.

She went on to explain that things happened when they did not follow the coaches rules, however she hopes for the next match and that they do not make the same mistake and win.


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The Czech Republic and Poland say bye bye to EuroBasket Women 2009

Poland and the Czech Republic at EuroBasket Women2009 © womensbasketball-in-france.com

Poland won the tip-off and Magdalena Leciejewska scored within the first five seconds of the game.

The Czech Republic did not waste much time in also getting off the mark and with only 44 seconds played they led (4-2).

The pace of the game slowed down and the Czech Republic took early control to go ahead (12-6) with a little over four minutes to play in the first period.

Poland were back on level terms very quickly (12-12) after Daria Mieloszynska fired in a running jump shot from the land of many.

Michala Hartigová was having a strong quarter for the Czech Republic offensively and with the help of some clutch shooting of Katerina Elhotova the Czech Republic egded the first quarter (21-14).

Elhotova continued to cause Poland problems as the Czech Republic's advantage grew (29-18) after 14 minutes.

Katerina Bartonova was called for a foul on Paulina Pawlak from Poland just beyond the three-point shooting line as she jumped for a shot.

Pawlak was awarded 3 free-throws, which she converted. Her next action was to hit a trey from the field which made Milan Veverka from the Czech Republic call for a time-out.

Polish and Czech Women basketball players at  EuroBasket Women 2009 © womensbasketball-in-france.comThe Czech Republic were able to take control of the game while keeping Agnieszka Bibrzycka scoreless as they went into the interval leading (43-27).

The Czech Republic dominated the third period and led by more than 20 points with four minutes played after the interval (51-29).

Poland picked up their game for a short while and trailed by 13 points at one stage. However they were not able to close the gap and went into the final period trailing (48-62).

Poland never looked like troubling the Czech Republic and the match was over as a contest early in the last quarter.

The Czech Republic ended up winning (82-68) and eliminated Poland from EuroBasket Women.

EuroBasket Women 2009 Box Scores.



Spain taking down Latvia in the final quarter of a EuroBasket Women classic

Spain  and Latvia at EuroBasket Women2009 © womensbasketball-in-france.com

The match started with an explosive 60 seconds for Spain with fouls against Elisa Aguilar, Cindy Lima and Laia Palau. In addition Anete Jekabsone-Zogota scored for Latvia in the 12th second. Spain weathered the storm and in the second minute opened their account as Alba Torrens concluded a fast break. The game was very physical and despite the efforts of Jekabsone-Zogota, Spain battled away to go ahead (13-11) with four minutes played. Ieva Tare was brought into the frame and Latvia’s intensity went up. The two teams were tied (17-17) with a minute to play in the first period. Dita Krumberga from Latvia took the pressure off Jekabsone-Zogota with some crucial points and put Latvia back in front (19-17). Amaya Valdemoro made her first appearance with 30 seconds to play in the first period. Jekabsone-Zogota opened the scoring in the second period for Latvia but Spain hit back with a trey from Valdemoro. Spain then allowed Jekabsone-Zogota to run right into the paint to score and draw the foul to make it a three-point play. Spain kept their cool and Valdemoro hit another three-pointer. With Latvia leading (24-23), Ainars Zvirgzdins decided he needed a time-out. Spain silenced the arena moments later as they put together a fast break that was concluded by Anna Montañana for her 10th point of the game to regain the lead. The two coaches started to play cat and mouse with each other with frequent changes in players and systems. Latvia regained the advantage from the free-throw line (30-29) line with Krumberga converting both. Zana Tamane from Latvia at EuroBasket Women2009 against Spain © womensbasketball-in-france.comSpain thought they had gained the upper hand through Laura Nicholls. But Zana Tamane (no. 7 in picture) had the last say from Latvia with the last points of the first half of the match (32-31). The first points from the third period came from the three-point line: Aguilar scored first for Spain. Then Liene Jansone fired in back to back shots from beyond the arc. The two teams continued their offensive assault in a fast, furious and physical encounter and were tied once again (45-45) with just under three minutes to play in the third period. Spain had problems from the free-throw line and went 2-for-6 at a crucial time which allowed Latvia to lead going into the final period (49-47). Montañana put Spain back in the lead with a trey at the start of the final quarter. For Latvia it went from bad to worse as Aguilar was allowed to hit a rainbow trey from downtown. This was quickly followed by an easy 2 points by Montañana to put Spain back in the lead (55-49). With eight minutes left to play the Latvian coach decided that a time-out was required. Spain continued with the pressure on defense and added 2 more points to their lead (57-49) from Torrens who went coast to coast. She then rushed back immediately to defend and blocked Gunta Basko in one of the best actions of the match. Latvia in difficulty against Spain at EuroBasket Women2009 against Spain © womensbasketball-in-france.comSpain's 12-0 run was ended by Jekabsone-Zogota. Although Valdemoro scored for Spain the loudest cheer of the night came when Aija Brumermane scored for Latvia seconds later. Montañana was at her offensive best in the paint as she continued to score for Spain. On the other hand Jekabsone-Zogota was firing in from the land of many. Spain fought tooth and nail for everything in their own paint. Palau was rewarded for her chasing lost causes when the ball got back to Valdemoro who hit a three (66-58) with three minutes left to play. Basko scored with 75 seconds remaining to give Latvia hope once more. But their chance was gone and Spain won (67-60).

EuroBasket Women 2009 Box Scores.

EuroBasket Women 2009 audio after match comments Cindy Lima at EuroBasket Women 2009 © womensbasketball-in-france Cindy Lima explained that the team fought hard until the end and that the team were mentally strong which helped them in difficult situations. She was impressed by the support the Latvian team received by the home support but she hopes that they remain focused for the EuroBasket Women quarter-final game which is an important game.



>Aija Brumermaneaplaying basketball in Riga Latvia for EuroBasket Women 2009 © womensbasketball-in-france.com

Aija Brumermanea, who has been injured since the start of EuroBasket Women, is happy to be back on court after sitting on the bench.

She explained that while injured she was still part of the team, which has made it easier to return.

She concluded that playing at home in front of the home fans was really great.



>Gunta Basko disappointed after losing to Spainin Riga Latvia  © womensbasketball-in-france.com

Gunta Basko really believed that Latvia would win and was disappointed with the ways things went in the final quarter.

She is not sure of the opponents for the quarter-final but believes that as long as they keep their heads up and remain positive that they will win.


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Belarus keep hope alive while Russia win again

Spain are the only team undefeated in Group E

France stay on track in beating Turkey (55-43)

Russia in quarter-final

France taken to the wire against Lithuania (57-55)

Spain and Latvia in quarter-final

France beat Israel (73-70) to end first phase unbeaten

Four teams go home

France need overtime to beat Belarus (63-61)

Five teams qualify for the next phase

France beat Italy (76-61)

EuroBasket Women news from day 1

Return from EuroBasket Women 2009 finals to "What's New" page

Return to Senior International Basketball

EuroBasket Women 2009 pictures credits :

womensbasketball-in-france.com

Date: 15 June 2009


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