GB Senior Women Edged by Poland in Final Prep Game

Great Britain Senior Women were edged out 73-64 by Poland as they signed off their participation in Logrono and completed their final preparation game ahead of EuroBasket Women next month.

Head coach Peter Buckle and his team overturned a double-figure deficit from the third quarter and took the lead heading into the closing minutes, but were just squeezed out – despite a sparkling 18 points from Chantelle Handy.

While Jay-Ann Bravo-Harriott was rested as a precautionary measure due to a groin problem, there was something of a surprise return for Steph Gandy who had not initially been expected to return.

Gandy helped GB post a very positive opening quarter as six different players got onto the score-sheet, with Handy in particular finding the hot hand early to take her team into a 16-9 lead.

However, Poland responded with a very strong finish to the opening ten minutes and a 13-3 run took them 22-19 in front

The second quarter witnessed Poland maintain their lead throughout as they moved seven points clear, although Handy was still on fire for GB and moved to 13 points having not yet missed from the open floor.

Rachael Vanderwal also helped GB to keep Poland in sight and it was her contributions that cut the gap to 42-37 by half-time – with the other highlight being young Harriet Ottewill-Soulsby stepping off the bench to complete an ‘And-1’ play.

Poland started the third quarter well and ominously streaked away at 50-39, but some great work by Azania Stewart put her into double-figures with 10 points.

Combined with restricting Poland to one basket in over three minutes and a score by Nicole How just before the buzzer allowed GB to narrow to 58-54 heading into the last period.

Erin McGarrachan made it a one-shot game early in the fourth quarter with a pair of free-throws and as GB continued to work harder than ever defensively, Poland continued to stutter offensively.

With four minutes left on the game clock, Handy drained a huge three-pointer and that completed the comeback by putting GB 64-63 in front.

But Poland rallied to score the last ten points of the contest as Handy fouled out and GB struggled to execute another score in the closing stages.

Azania Stewart and Rachael Vanderwal shared 20 points and the former also collected seven rebounds.

“We built some momentum and got the lead which is good, but we just didn’t finish the game well enough,” reflected Coach Buckle.

“We have seen important improvements between game one and game three, especially in our possession game.

“We also had fewer turnovers and we are shooting the ball a little better.

“It’s just about being able to execute offensively in those key moments.

“We have to get ready now for EuroBasket Women and the challenge ahead by training hard between now and the start of the competition.”

He added, “We still have Temi Fagbenle to come back into things and three or four niggling injuries to take care of, so hopefully we will be healthy when we arrive in Hungary.”

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