GB overcome Sweden in Spain.

GB made it three wins in a week with a 64-56 win over Sweden as the team continue preparations for next week’s FIBA Women’s EuroBasket.

In an end-to-end game which saw the lead change hands eight times, GB’s run of 11-0 in the second was critical in overturning Sweden’s early advantage.

Speaking after the game Chantelle Handy, who scored 4/8 from outside the arc, was happy with the win after the recent defeat to Sweden:

“It was a big win. We knew we had to step it up as last time we played them we didn’t play so great.”

It was a frustrating start to the game for GB with Sweden opening up a nine-point advantage in the first. Three-pointers from Stef Collins and Chantelle Handy were amongst the early highlights for GB as Sweden’s Amanda Zahui led the scoring with seven in the first.

GB were also left to pay the price for persistent fouling in the first with Sweden scoring 5/6 from the free throw line.

GB’s defence was the key in Q2 as they restricted the Swedes to just seven points, overturning the first quarter deficit. Back-to-back threes from Chantelle Handy sparked a run of 11-0 as GB opened up a five-point advantage.

Sweden came back into the game strongly in the latter stages of the quarter and retained the lead with a lay up on the buzzer. 30-31 at the half.

In the third GB continued the form shown in the second and again limited Sweden with some strong defence and excellent three-point shooting. Samuelson, Jones, Handy all found the basket from distance before another three-pointer from Vanderwal on the buzzer gave GB a five-point advantage.

In the fourth the teams were trading basket for basket until two baskets without reply from Fagbenle opened up a six-point advantage with just three minutes left on the clock.

Sweden once again reduced the gap to just three points but five without reply from Leedham-Warner – a three-pointer followed by two for two on the free throw line – gave GB the eight-point lead which they maintained for  the closing minute.

GB return to action tonight against hosts Spain in the final warm up game before flying to Riga on Monday.