GB under-20 women became the first GB age-group team to win promotion to the top tier of European basketball following their 59-40 success against Portugal on Saturday evening. They will now play Slovakia in the European Championship Division B final on Sunday evening - but the hard work is done and they will compete in the A Division next season.
Damian Jennings' team never looked back after a 17-4 first period, and a good all-round team performance saw them take the win and a place in the top flight. Mairi Buchan led the scoring with ten points, and added eight rebounds, while Katrin Chiemeka hit three of her five three-point attempts to finish with nine points, and also added eight boards and three steals.
After that blistering start, GB remained in control and were 28-15 ahead at half-time having shared 22 second period points.
The Portugese - who were led by 11 points and as many rebounds from Sofia Da Silva but had no one else in double figures - shaded the third period12-11 to cut GB's lead to 38-27 at the final break. But they had no answer to the GB team in the final stanza as they outscored them 20-13 to take the victory. A 52-37 success rate on the boards made up for a poor night shooting, as Jennings and his team were left to celebrate.
In the European U20 Championship for Men, Great Britain ended up in sixth place following a play-off for fifth with Israel. Tim Lewis' side were beaten 103-92 in Oberwart, despite a game-high 31 points from Ovie Soko.
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