GB Under-18s Women Suffer First Loss as Ireland Make QFs

Great Britain Under-18s fell to their first loss at the European Championships on Tuesday after Ireland recorded a 63-49 victory in front of a sell-out home crowd.

The tournament hosts top the group and secure a quarter-final spot, while GB must now beat Slovakia in their final group game tomorrow to join Ireland in the last eight.

Jade Blackburn top scored for GB with nine points with Holly Winterburn adding eight points, while Dani Lozzi had seven points, seven boards and five steals.

Box score.

Blackburn opened the scoring before the hosts responded with an 11-0 run to take control. Winterburn netted from beyond the arc, but GB found themselves trailing 6-19 after 10 minutes.

The second period was more evenly contested with GB cutting the gap to seven through Lozzi, but they went into half-time down 23-37. It was a tough test for the GB back-court with Ireland’s relentless pressure and their shooting woes proved costly.

Ireland grabbed complete control of the game with an 11-0 opening to the third period with Maya Price eventually breaking GB’s drought, going 1-of-2 from the line with 3:37 on the clock.

Harrison scored the final five points of the quarter to make it 30-51 and despite outscoring their opponents 19-12 in the fourth, they still fell 14 points short in defeat.

Claire Melia produced a big double-double with 14 points and 15 rebounds in the win.

Notes

– GB’s starters were Lozzi, Winterburn, Ellmore, Blackburn & Knowles
– Ireland remain unbeaten and will advance as group winners
– GB face Slovakia tomorrow in a must-win clash at 1:45pm UK time

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