GB Under-18s Women Overturn Double-Digit Deficit to Win Opener

Great Britain Under-18s recovered from a slow start to beat Ukraine 80-63 in their Division B opener at the European Championships in Dublin, Ireland.

Vanessa Ellis’ side trailed by 10 points early in the second, but poured in 33 points in the third as part of a dominant second half display en route to their first victory.

Holly Winterburn led the way with 17 points, eight rebounds and five assists, while Charlotte Ellmore added 16 points and Jade Blackburn had 13.

Dani Lozzi scored nine points and highlighted her defensive prowess with an impressive eight steals.

Box score.

Blackburn banked in GB’s first points from downtown before six points from Winterburn put her side up 9-8. However, Ukraine edged 17-13 ahead after 10 minutes and stretched their lead to double digits with an 8-2 run.

GB battled back to reduce the deficit, but still trailed by seven at 26-33 heading into the half-time break. A strong start to the third saw two triples from Blackburn before Ellmore took over with 11 points in a row to give GB a 54-50 advantage.

Ellmore took her tally to 14 points in the period as GB opened up a 59-52 lead to take into the final 10 minutes.

GB pushed on with a 13-2 start to the final period with Emily Stradling scoring her first points with five in a row as the lead jumped out to 18 points at 72-54.

Ukraine hit back with a 7-0 run to offer a brief rally, but GB responded with an 8-2 run to make sure of the victory.

Meanwhile, also in Group D, hosts Ireland defeated Macedonia 89-43 in their first game.

Notes

– GB’s starters were Haines, Lozzi, Winterburn, Blackburn & Knowles
– Blackburn scored GB Under-18’s first-ever points at a European Championships
– Knowles, Stradling, Henderson & Jones all have previous U18 Euro experience
– GB take on Moldova in their second game tomorrow at 4pm UK time
– Moldova were beaten 21-157 in their opener against Slovakia

Do you like our work?

We have a tiny favour to ask. In 2018 we set out to make Hoopsfix sustainable by building our relationship directly with our readers. Up until now, Hoopsfix has been creating editorials, videos and podcasts to provide sorely missing coverage of the British game and its distinct culture and community.

We have funded Hoopsfix with our freelance work creating basketball media, but sadly that means not only does it fall behind our client’s priorities, but some of those clients are the same organisations we need to report objectively on putting us in a conflicted position.

We want to devote more time to our mission of helping British basketball reach its potential, and produce even more content for the basketball community by making Hoopsfix a sustainable 100% independent business funded directly by our readers through Patreon.

If everyone who enjoys our content chose to support us, our future would be much more secure. For as little as $3 per month, you can support Hoopsfix – and it only takes a minute.

We are tremendously honoured and humbled to have a community of people who value what we do, and we look forward to being at the forefront of the British game as it continues to evolve.

Support Hoopsfix