All to Play For Despite GB Defeat to Lithuania

Great Britain slipped to a first loss in the EuroBasket Women 2015 2nd Qualification Round with an 81-61 defeat in Lithuania, but there was still plenty for head coach Peter Buckle to be satisfied with. After racking up victories against Belgium and FYR of Macedonia, Great Britain went up against their hosts who also had a perfect record to their name.
 
The early part of the game saw Great Britain continue very much in the same kind of vein that had handed them their vibrant and unbeaten start to the campaign. With their trademark defence and willingness to play at a frenetic and exhilarating pace, Coach Buckle’s team controlled the early exchanges, with a basket by Temi Fagbenle taking them 11-6 in front.
 
While Lithuania levelled matters, Great Britain exploded thanks to some beautifully aggressive play from Stef Collins. The point guard was at the heart of a wonderful 9-0 run, completing an ‘and-1’ play after a strong right-handed lay-up and then making a tough play on the other side of the basket. With Fagbenle finding her touch via a delicious looking baseline jump-shot, Great Britain were 20-11 in front, but an inevitable stormy response came from the home team.
 
Lithuania eventually got to grips with the relentless tempo and they jumped into the box-seat and wrestled the initiative away from Great Britain with a productive 21-3 burst as a triple from Marina Solopova put them 32-23 ahead. However Great Britain rallied and headed to the locker rooms 35-30 behind after some good work from Azania Stewart and Eilidh Simpson who helped t steady the ship.
 
But, Lithuania continued to put their foot on the accelerator when the action resumed and after Santa Okockyte handed them a first double-digit advantage of the night,  Egle Sulciute and Gabriele Gutkauskaite both scored from behind the three-point line to extend the lead to 57-40. Falling further behind at 72-48 in the last quarter, Great Britain didn’t lie down however and scored nine of the next eleven points to remain competitive and there were excellent contributions from Fagbenle and Collins in particular to draw strength from.
 
Fagbenle led the scoring with 16 points, while Collins showed that being one of the smallest players on show isn’t a barrier to success on the glass, by completing a fine double-double of 14 points and 10 rebounds. There was also another hugely encouraging contribution from Eilidh Simpson who added an efficient seven points. 

Great Britain Head Coach Peter Buckle said, “You have to hand the credit to Lithuania, because they really are a very good team. I think that while the score suggested a blowout, it was a really hard-fought game at times and especially in the first-half which was a battle.”

You can see a full list of statistics from the game here.

Great Britain will now move on to Antwerp on Wednesday where they will look to secure a double over Belgium who have now taken their first win in the Group, courtesy of a 94-66 success against FYR of Macedonia.

Image Credit: Mansoor Ahmed