great britain take france all the way in eurobasket clash

After a back-and-forth contest in Ljubljana where Great Britain took on France in the second of their Women’s EuroBasket group games, Chema Buceta’s side fell to a narrow defeat against one of the world’s best sides.

GB pushed the French – ranked No.2 in Europe and No.6 in the world – all the way, before eventually succumbing to a 63-57 defeat.

Captain Temi Fagbenle led the British fight with 20 points and eight rebounds, while Sydney Wallace was also in double figures for scoring with 17, and yesterday’s TCL Player of the Game Kristine Anigwe contributed seven points and 11 rebounds.

France got off to a hot start, taking the opening quarter 19-11, but Coach Buceta’s team competed incredibly to narrow the gap to five points (29-24) at the half and level things up at 35 apiece early in the third via a Fagbenle lay-up.

GB continued to push for a victory throughout the remainder of the contest, but couldn’t quite overhaul their rivals, who were led by 15 points from Migma Toure.

It leaves GB with a 1-1 record following the spectacular opening Group C win over hosts Slovenia on Thursday, and they will face Germany in the final game of the four-team group on Sunday. The group winners will progress directly to the quarter-finals and the second and third-placed teams go into a play-off against the second and third-placed teams in Group D to join them.

Click below to hear Coach Buceta and Temi Fagbenle’s reflections on the performance against France.

Boxscore

Watch Great Britain in action on Sunday against Germany in their final group game of Women’s EuroBasket LIVE on GB Basketball TV.