Great Britain 80 - 63 Ukraine - Report
An improved second half showing saw Great Britain Under 18 Women come back from a 6 point halftime deficit to defeat Ukraine 80-63 in Dublin, led by 17 points from Leicester Riders' Holly Winterburn.
GB opened the contest shooting 0/5 before a Blackburn 3 pointer broke the seal for Coach Vanessa Ellis's squad. They would continue to struggle putting the ball in the basket the rest of the period, but would show their defensive intent in managing to stay within 4 points at the end of the 1st.
The second quarter would be very much more of the same for the Brits, with fouls and turnovers also becoming an issue, as the east Europeans pulled away. A timely jumper by Milly Knowles late in the period crucially helped to keep the deficit under double figures as the buzzer sounded.
Both teams would open the second half trading baskets, until a quick Sevenoaks Suns powered 8 point burst including Jade Blackburn 3 pointers either side of a Ukraine timeout bookending a Dani Lozzi jumper brought GB back within 2 points. Ukraine would attempt to respond, but GB's suffocating defence would disrupt much of what they were trying to do. Frustration would show amongst the Ukrainians as Flora Durgerian was on the receiving end of an unsportsmanlike foul late on in the quarter. Great Britain took its first lead since 9-8 with a Charlotte Ellmore scooped layup to go up 51-50, and would never trail again, having ripped off a 33 point period to strangle the game from their opponents.
The final period saw Great Britain consolidate their lead, emphasising their defensive superiority by holding Ukraine to their lowest scoring output of any quarter. GB would hold its biggest lead of the contest at 72-54 on a Knowles put back layup.
Winterburn was all over the court for Coach Ellis, producing a stunning all-round effort with 17 points, 8 rebounds, 5 assists, and 2 steals. She was well supported by Ellmore's 16 points, and Blackburn's 13.
Notes:
-Starters for GB: Megan Haines, Dani Lozzi, Holly Winterburn, Jade Blackburn, Milly Knowles.
-First ever U18 European Championship game as Great Britain.
-Lozzi near double-double with 9pts, 8 steals.
-Shot a cold 8/34 in first half.
-Play Moldova next tomorrow at 16:00 GMT+1
