GB 77-49 Poland: Report, highlights, stats, pictures
Great Britain’s Women gave a dominant performance against Poland to cement top spot in their EuroBasket Women 2021 Qualifying group.
Coach Chema Buceta’s team overcame a rusty start in the Istanbul ‘bubble’ to record a second Group F victory over their rivals and go 2-1, winning 77-49.
GB started with Eilidh Simpson, Chantelle Handy, Janice Monakana, Temi Fagbenle and Kristine Anigwe.
And three of that quintet provided a scoring punch in what was an all-round team performance.
Handy dropped five threes to lead all scorers with 19 points, while Anigwe grew into a physical paint contest with the Poles to record 15 points and eight rebounds. Simpson was a rebound shy of a double-double with 12 points, nine rebounds and five assists.
GB built their win on a 27-13 second quarter that saw four Handy threes, two from Simpson and Hannah Robb’s first senior points, after they trailed 15-10 following the first period.
And they never looked back, quelling a third-quarter Poland resurgence to go into the fourth 53-41 up before shutting the door on their rivals with some solid defence to build a commanding lead.
Cheridene Green chipped in with 10 points off the bench, while Fagbenle provided leadership as well and eight points and nine rebounds. Monakana had eight points.
GB held Poland to eight points in the final quarter to seal the win with Marissa Lee Kastanek’s 16 points the main scoring efforts from their rivals.