Germany Beat Belgium In The Opener

Germany opened their EuroBasket Women Additional Qualifying Tournament campaign with a comfortable 69-57 win over Belgium in Group A. 

Germany quickly established a 10-3 lead, and held Belgium at arm's length for most of the game.

Although Belgium twice drew level, they never led as they were outrebounded and were guilty of too many turnovers.

Germany's lead reached double figures as early as the eighth minute, with Romy Bär's jump-shot putting them up 21-11.

Belgium rallied in the second quarter, with Lieselot Malfait's jump-shot putting them back within one point, 28-27, three minutes before half-time.

But Germany responded with a 10-2 run, including five points from Sarah Austmann, to take a 38-29 advantage into the locker rooms.

Again, Belgium came back, chipping away at the advantage until they were level for the first time since the start of the game, 41-41, on Miete Celus three-pointer midway through the third period.

But they could not keep up with Germans, who always had another gear.

When Svenja Greunke nailed a three-pointer to end the period, they were back on top 50-43.

Celus hit another three, following by a Noemie Mayombo jump-shot to make it 50-48, but Lisa Koop's jump-shot sparked a 12-0 Germany run and this time there was no Belgian rally.

Bär and Anne Breitreiner led Germany with 14 points each, Bär adding 13 rebounds to help give Germany a 47-37 edge on the boards, while Koop collected 13 points.

Malfait and Mayombo had 11 points each for Belgium. Celus finished with nine points but was responsible for six of their 26 turnovers.

Quotes Germany vs. Belgium

Belgium Head Coach Arvid Diels:
"We are disappointed with our defeat, however, we are at the beginning of the tournament and the team expected to grow. The players are very young and we must work hardly to create our identity. We had too many easy mistakes, we lost balls and we couldn't score good shots. We'll try to improve our practice and I believe the victory will come." 

Belgium Player Lieselot Malfait:
"We lost because we didn't play well, in fact, when a team plays a good basket ball win. Our problems are in rebounding and in our little experience. We have to find a right mentality and start to play as a team."

Germany Head Coach Bastian Wernthaler: 
"I'm happy for this succesfull debut in the Additional Tournament. The victory is the result of good work of the players.  We are a young team, so we are trying to find a good mentality and playing as a close group. After this good start, we have to carry on this way, day by day but, obviously, we want to get so far as we can."

Germany Player  Dorothea Richter:
"It's a good result for us because it was important to win the first game of the Additional Tournament. Since the beginning of match we played hard and fast, we fighted under the board to catch many rebounds and so we won.  I'm satisfied"