Germany Down Serbia To Reach AQT Final

21-year-old Svenja Greunke played her best ever game with the senior national team Tuesday, to lead Germany to the AQT Final

Germany's hopes of reaching the EuroBasket Women are well and truly alive following a 74-64 victory over Serbia on Tuesday.

Just two days after their 78-57 drubbing of Group B hosts Italy, Bastian Wernthaler's German team grinded out a triumph in Taranto against a young Serbia side to improve to 3-1 and set up an Additional Qualifying Tournament Final showdown with Group A winners Hungary.

The national team that prevails in that two-legged AQT Final will claim the last remaining berth on offer for the EuroBasket, which tips off in Poland on June 18.

Svenja Greunke, Germany's 21-year-old power forward, had 16 points and eight rebounds and shooting guard Sarah Austmann, a member of the national side that played at the EuroBasket Women four years ago in Chieti, Italy, finished with 15 points, six rebounds and three assists.

Germany have advanced because even if Italy were to finish 3-1, they would lose a potential tie-breaker with Wernthaler's side because of their blowout defeat.

The turning point in Tuesday's contest came midway through the third quarter.

Serbia looked to be in the ascendancy after an Adrijana Knezevic basket gave her team a 45-39 lead.

Austmann replied with a jump shot and two free-throws to close the gap to two points.

Germany would end up going on top 48-47 when Tina Menz hit a jumper, but Jelena Maksimovic's one-of-two effort from the charity stripe for Serbia knotted the contest.

Menz struck again, though, after catching a pass from Katharina Kühn and hitting the jump shot before two Austmann free-throws and a Svenja Greunke jumper increased the advantage to 54-48.

Germany eventually claimed a comfortable 10-point victory.

Serbia hurt their own cause with an 11-of-19 effort at the stripe and 21 turnovers.

Romy Bär had a team-high three steals for Germany.

The Germans have had an impressive summer, just one year after they ended up fourth in their Division A qualifying group behind Great Britain, Slovakia and Ukraine.

Wernthaler replaced Imre Szyttia at the helm and after a confidence-boosting preparation period that saw the Germans win most of their preparation games, they have ridden the momentum to top spot in Group A.

Quotes Serbia vs. Germany

Serbia Head Coach Miodrag Veskovic:
"We played three quarters out of four, the team was tired physically and mentally. In the first quarter we kind of let down a little bit, we made turnovers, missed easy shots, they took it. Germany played a great game, it's a young team but very organized. They are close and always work as a team, focused on their play."

Serbia Player Maja Miljkovic:
"First of all congratulations to Germany, it was a strong opponent. They played a very hard game, in the second half, we tried to improve but they scored many important shots and so they won. Germany did a great job during the tournament and deserve the qualification"

Germany Head Coach Bastian Wernthaler:
"We expected a tough match and we prepared very well our game. Serbia has a good player under the board and we got some problems in offence. I had to change our game and the team found the right energy and mentality to react. I'm very proud of my players because they are young, I'm testing them day by day and they are surprising me."

Germany Player Sarah Austmann:
"I think it was very hard game but, maybe, Serbia were not ready for our one-on-one offence. We increased our intensity and this is the key point in my opinion. Our opponent has more talents but we are a great group and our desire and efforts to win decided the result today."