SUPER GB SEMI-FINAL BOUND

Great Britain hammered hosts Rwanda 75-61 on Thursday night to advance to the semi-finals of the FIBA Women’s Basketball World Cup Pre-Qualifiers in Kigali.

The goal for GB was simple: win, and they would advance to the semi-finals. Coach Anna Montanana’s side had the most straight-forward scenario, as Rwanda had to avoid losing by 35 points or more to reach the last four.

And what followed was undeniably the best performance of the week from GB as they recovered from a torrid first three minutes to put on an all-around clinic against the previously unbeaten African side.

“This was the next step for us in the group,” Montanana said.

“We knew that it would be a very challenging game for us. We knew we needed to win to get to the next round, and I’m super happy for the team, the way they execute everything we worked at this morning, and I see an improvement every day.”

As a result, Great Britain will play Hungary on Saturday in the semi-finals.

Holly Winterburn led four Great Britain scorers in double figures with 15 points, seven rebounds and six assists, shaking off a horrible collision midway through the third to steer her team to victory.

Sam Ashby, who came off the bench had 14 points, matched by Sam Ashby. Maya Price amassed 12 on 6/9 shooting.

“This was an important win for us,” Price said. “We knew Rwanda would come out with a lot of energy, and we knew we would have to match that and go above and beyond.

“We played really well together as a team, which has been the main focus for us this week. We are learning to play together, and we are developing that now.”

But despite the performance, it was actually a nightmare start for Great Britain as, with less than three minutes played, they had not registered a field goal, whereas Rwanda was shooting 68% from the floor and accelerating to a 10-2 lead.

Following a much-needed timeout from Montanana, it was a chance for her side to hit the reset button amid the cauldron of noise from the home crowd in Kigali.

The reset button worked wonders as Great Britain held their counterparts scoreless for the rest of the first as a Price-inspired 14-0 run gave GB a 16-10 lead after one.

Ashby added three more points to that spurt in the first seconds of the second before Bella Murekatete ended a near nine-minute spell without a field goal for the hosts.

From shooting 68% from the floor, Rwanda were suddenly shooting 24% during GB’s 17-0 run, which was a testament to the stellar defence played by Great Britain and the flawless offence, led by Price and Winterburn.

A three-point play from Winterburn followed by a bucket from Wilkinson gave GB a 41-21 cushion as the offence continued to flow nicely and by the half-time buzzer, they extended their advantage to 45-23.

It was a sizeable lead that GB carried into the third as they kept the scoreboard ticking. The offence became methodical and composed as the Brits maintained superiority.

Rwanda did have their moments, as they bullied their way to the foul line, getting their points the old fashioned way. A three from Rosine Micomyiza gave the vocal home fans hope.

But Ashby muted them immediately with a three, which began an 8-0 run from Great Britain, resulting in a 67-39 cushion heading into the final ten.

Leading by as many as 29 points, the Brits fell victim to a 10-0 run from the hosts before Winterburn ended the spell and the game as a contest.

Murekatete led Rwanda with 17 points.

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