FRA/RUS – France hold off Russia at the end to claim bronze
VIDNOJE (FIBA U21 World Championship for Women) – France captured the bronze medal with a 67-61 triumph over Russia at the FIBA U21 World Championship for Women on Sunday. Les Bleues hit the floor running, scoring the game’s first eight points and they used that early cushion as a launchpad for victory. The French team’s biggest ...
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VIDNOJE (FIBA U21 World Championship for Women) – France captured the bronze medal with a 67-61 triumph over Russia at the FIBA U21 World Championship for Women on Sunday.
Les Bleues hit the floor running, scoring the game’s first eight points and they used that early cushion as a launchpad for victory.
The French team’s biggest lead in the first quarter was 25-6, with Isabelle Yacoubou pouring in nine her of her team-high 14 points in the frame.
The tournament hosts tried to dig themselves out of the hole with Irina Ryukhina providing points – she had nine in the first half – and they cut the deficit to 39-31 at the break.
But a horrible third quarter, during which France reeled off 14 consecutive points to lead 59-37 with 1:30 remaining in the period, undid all the hard work of the Russians in their comeback effort.
Behind by 22 to start the final quarter, Russia tried once again to pull off an improbable fightback and they nearly succeeded as France failed to score for the first six minutes.
Evgenia Belyakova’s lay-up with 4:21 to go trimmed the visitors’ lead to 61-53.
A pivotal sequence ensued, however, that benefited France.
After Clarisse Costaz turned the ball over for the French, Tatiana Bokareva missed a lay-up.
Evgenia Belyakova was then slapped with an unsportsmanlike foul on Sandrine Gruda, allowing the big center to make a pair of free throws for the French team’s first points of the quarter.
France kept possession, and Tokareva fouled Gruda again, allowing her to make two more free throws for a 65-53 lead.
Russia refused to give in.
They poured in eight consecutive points to leave the French wobbling with 57 seconds to go.
France began to look as if they were going to implode as Gruda turned the ball over, but Russia failed to take advantage.
Bokareva missing a jumper, and when Gruda missed for France with 37 seconds to go, Belyakova was off target with a three-pointer.
Russia had to foul to stop the clock, and Les Bleues’ Sylvie Gruszczynski sank two more free throws as France survived.
Ekaterina Lisina had 15 points and Ekaterina Savelyeva 13 for Russia.
FIBA