20.06.2011

Great Britain Advance To Round 2

Turning Point: A 15-0 run in the first half, capped by a three-pointer from Natalie Stafford, sent Great Britain 21-11 in front. They would never trail again.

Game Hero: Jo Leedham had a game-high 18 points for GB in only her fifth game in six months as she continues to recover from a chronic knee injury.

Stats Don't Lie: Britain hit 5 of 6 from three-point range in a confident shooting display. Israel were just 2 of 9 while struggling inside.

Great Britain booked their place in Round 2 of EuroBasket Women with a comprehensive 74-51 victory over Israel that clinched third place in Group B.

And in a game in which the loser was destined to head home, the 2012 Olympic Games hosts produced their best showing so far to advance with their first-ever win in the finals.

After three lead changes in the opening exchanges, Julie Page put her side in front for good as GB took a 13-11 advantage into the second quarter.

And when they immediately added another ten unanswered points, it dealt the Israelis a fatal blow.

Jo Leedham hit three three-pointers off the bench and Kim Butler added 14 points and 8 rebounds.

Britain were too strong inside and out, using its size to win the rebounding battle 46-25.

Capitalising on their 37-24 lead at half-time, Tom Maher's side kept applying pressure as the Australian coach urged them on.

And although Shay Doron had a team-best 15 points, Israel lacked the additional weapons to hit back.

After trailing 54-37 headed into the fourth, they could do nothing but contemplate yet another early exit as Britain celebrated the opportunity to remain in Bydgoszcz and gain further priceless experience at this level.
 

20.06.2011

Quotes Great Britain vs. Israel

Great Britain Player Stefanie Collins:
"We knew it was going to be a battle because it was do or die. We really wanted go get through to the second round as this was our debut appearance at EuroBasket Women. We are heading in the right direction and can now look forward to the next game. The spirit is very high and especially when you think about where we have come from during the last couple of years. This is where we want to be. These next games are going to be a real challenge."

Israel Guard Shay Doron:
"Of course we didn't want to come out and play like that because we have a lot of pride. We believed in the team and each other when we started. However for some reason we just didn't connect this year and came up very short. We feel terrible about the way we played and the way it happened. We need to re-group and while you can never promise you will be back at a EuroBasket Women tournament, we do hope we will be here again in the future."

Israel Head Coach Eliyahu Rabi:
"We worked hard and I think my players did all that they could. Normally my team reach the goals that we set ourselves and in the past we have shown how we can play. Great Britain deserved to make it to the second round. We are already looking forward to the future and to try and work out how we can be even better prepared next time."

Great Britain Head Coach Tom Maher:
"It was a dream to win that game because it was a big, big game for us. Even I was very nervous because I looked at their players like Shay Doron and Liron Cohen and they are such great players so I knew it would be hard for us. However we just knuckled down and it was a comfortable win in the end. I think our performances here so far have been terrific. To get within
15 points of Belarus and Czech Republic is reaching a high level for us. None of our players are ever going to make any European All Star line-up that's for sure, we're just a hard working team. We have to play together as a group. The rebounding was 46 to 25 and that was a team stat for us, that's the sort of team we are. I really think we have had three fabulous results so far."