Home favourites Russia sweep aside Gems to make Final

CHEKHOV (2015 FIBA U19 Women's World Championship) - Host nation Russia showed their intent on capturing the 2015 FIBA U19 Women's World Championship title after dismantling Australia, 76-57, in the Semi-Finals.

Turning point: With Maria Vadeeva dominant at both ends of the floor in the paint, it was the added dimension of Russia finally finding their three-point range which made the difference in the second quarter. They set the Gems a mountain to climb by making three triples in succession and moving 39-21 ahead.

Stats Don't Lie: Australia found it rough going inside the paint and shot just 28% from two-point range.

Game Hero: Vadeeva was a colossus and finished with 27 points 16 rebounds and five blocks in one of the performances of the tournament to date.

The Bottom Line: Australia had no answer to the inside-outside game that Russia brought to the table. The losing side found it a grind guarding Vadeeva or avoiding her formidable and towering defensive presence. When Russia began lighting it up outside, the game began to slip away and instrumental in the success was not only Vadeeva, but also point guard Kseniia Levchenko. She pulled the strings and dictated much of the proceedings. Russia had 21 assists to their name and that underlined they have plenty to offer all over the floor. The hosts return to the Final of the competition for the first time in 14 years, while Australia will now try to match their Third-Place finish from two years ago in Lithuania.

FIBA