AUS/BEL - Australian Gems conquer Belgium

REZE (FIBA U19 World Championship Women) - Australia’s Under-19 women’s basketball team, the Gems, won their first game of an eight-nation tournament in Reze, France overnight defeating Belgium 65-50.

Stephanie Cumming top-scored for the Gems with 13 points while Belgium’s Jana Raman led all scorers with 26 points.

The Australians faced a three-point deficit after the first quarter but turned it around to lead by five points at halftime, 26-21.

The Gems rained in threes in the third quarter to lead by 12 points at the final break. Belgium fought back within five but the Aussies steadied to take the 15-point win.

Gems Head Coach Dean Kinsman was pleased to get the win in a game where he rotated players freely.

“The efforts from Rosie Moult and Bree Farley were encouraging, as too was Rebecca Allen’s play, in her first official hit out for the Gems,” said Kinsman.

The win gives the Gems a boost in the build up to the 2009 FIBA Under-19 World Championships for Women in Thailand in July.

The Gems will play Turkey tonight (4.45am Saturday June 6 AET) before Russia tomorrow night, with finals to be held late Sunday.

Basketball Australia