GB will play Romania at 4:30 pm (BST) on 5 August in a 9th-14th Classification Game, after losing both of their Group Stage games of the FIBA U20 Women’s EuroBasket Division B.

GB arrived in Miskolc, Hungary, boasting a squad filled with exciting young talent, including Olivia Forster, named in FIBA’s ‘ones to watch’ list, and Haley Wright, who had already competed in the FIBA U18 Women’s EuroBasket in Vilnius, Lithuania, as well as for the U18 GB Women Youth team in Skopje, North Macedonia, at the European Youth Olympic Festival.

Led by experienced Head Coach Sarah Hopkins-Chery, GB faced Ukraine in their opening match of the competition.

Great Britain VS Ukraine

Forster and Felicia Jacobs-Abiola dominated the scoring for GB, putting up 13 points each on efficient shooting.

Jacobs-Abiola, the 5’10” centre out of Temple University, Philadelphia, focused her scoring in the paint, using her quick feet and physicality to create angles to score and crash the glass, securing eight rebounds.

Forster worked more around the perimeter, netting three of her seven three-point attempts and dishing three assists to her teammates.

Zoe Sharpe also produced a strong performance, scoring seven points, grabbing seven rebounds, and making four assists. Seven rebounds for a 5’6” guard is a challenging feat, and her team-high 34:48 minutes played is testament to her strong performance on both the offensive and defensive sides of the ball.

Debra Wilson-Osuide further provided an important shooting touch, knocking down two timely three-pointers.

Felicia Jacobs-Abiola notched 13 points and 8 rebounds against Ukraine

Nevertheless, Ukraine emerged victorious thanks to a huge 23-point double-double from Polina Tupalo. The small forward was all over the court, collecting eleven rebounds along with her destructive scoring display in less than 23 minutes of action.

She was supported by an efficient performance from Elina Syniakova, who scored 15 points on 50% shooting.

Final Score: GBR 53 / UKR 74

You can watch the full game on the FIBA YouTube account below:

Ireland VS Great Britain

GB’s second and final group game of the tournament was against Ireland. This match proved a close encounter after GB overcame a 16-point first-half deficit, but ultimately lost 56-52.

Ireland took an eight-point lead in the first quarter thanks to some prolific scoring from Grace Prenter.

Isabel Sullivan took up the scoring mantle in the second period, scoring 11 points by herself to boost Ireland’s lead to 16.

Elizabeth Archer and Kerry McGhee kept the points ticking over for GB, but going into the half-time break, down 33-17, seemed a lofty challenge.

Elizabeth Archer scored 15 points and grabbed eight rebounds against Ireland

However, Coach Hopkins-Chery’s half-time team talk must have lit a fire in the GB squad, because they came out of the break with intensity and physicality.

Archer, McGhee, and Hannah Gray stole the show, and after GB won the quarter 7-21, they entered the final period with just a four-point deficit.

The final quarter went down to the wire. Archer and Jacobs-Abiola scored early, but Isabel Sullivan could not be stopped, driving to the basket at will.

Jacobs-Abiola tied the game at 52-52 with less than a minute to spare, grabbing the defensive rebound and then storming to the opposition basket for the score under the rim.

Nevertheless, Sullivan managed to find her way to the free throw line on three separate occasions, winning the game for Ireland in crunch time.

Final Score: IRL 56 / GBR 52

You can watch the full game below:

GB will take on Romania at 4:30 pm (BST) on 5 August to begin their 9th-14th Classification Stage.