GB Women Beat Ukraine, Now 2-1

The Great Britain Senior Women’s team came from behind to defeat the Ukraine 57-49 yesterday, helped hugely by a clutch fourth quarter shooting display from Jo Leedham

GB Women would not have been happy with their poor performance at either end of the floor in the first half of play, falling behind 21-25.

Great Britain took their first lead of the game two minutes into the third quarter. Tom Maher’s side continued drawing fouls but struggled from the line once more, shooting just 3/6 in the quarter and 13/27 in the game. A good shooting performance Natalie Stafford kept Great Britain in front by three going into the final quarter.

Jo Leedham, having struggled shooting the ball in the first three quarters, turned it on in the fourth, taking control and making three 3-pointers as well as showing more pressure on the defensive end. Foul trouble hurt the Ukrainian team as both Tetyana Shchypakina and Inna Kochubei, who had been leading the Ukraine, fouled out at the half way point in the fourth.

A small period of scrappy play led to Ukraine’s Maryna Sazonenko making two big threes and a lay-up but GB carried a six point lead into the final minute. Recomposed, Maher’s side rolled on to take the win, 57-49.

Leedham led Great Britain with 18 points, three assists and four steals. Stafford added 10 points and Stef Collins dealt out 4 assists. Kim Butler, Julie Page and Azania Steward combined for 21 of GB’s 44 rebounds. Full box score and play by play from the game is available here.

Great Britain have now improved their record to 2-1, placing them second in Group D but still in the running for the top spot and automatic qualification into Eurobasket 2011. Tom Maher and his team now travel to Kosice to face the Slovak Republic on Monday.

Image Credit: Dan Wooller/Wooller.com