June 22, 2017

All of the teams were well rested for the key quarterfinal games in Prague, with winners securing places in next summer’s global tournament in Spain.  Belgium had a great start, but let Italy climb back into the game before pulling away for a 79-66 win and their biggest margin of the tournament so far.  Emma Meesseman paced the victors while Cecilia Zandalasini continues to be the breakout player for Italy.  Evanthia Maltsi fueled Greece to another second half surge, this time not letting up to roll to an 84-55 win over Turkey.  Spain took an early lead on Latvia behind Alba Torrens and never looked back in a 67-47 win.  France also closed the door early on an upset-minded opponent, rolling past the Slovak Republic 67-40.

The games on Saturday will now be of great importance as teams get another day of rest.  The semifinals will obviously determine who will play for the championship, but the other two games are also critical.  The two winners will take the final places from Europe in the next World Championship, joining the quarterfinal winners and the United States.  Unavailable players could affect the Latvia-Italy game while Turkey should be the most motivated to bounce back from a loss as the only group winner to fail to advance, making it a tough task for the Slovak Republic.

Belgium vs. Italy 79-66 BEL Meesseeman 28/11r K. Mestdagh 19/8a Wauters 17 Vanloo 6 Nauwelaers 3 Delaere 2 Carpreaux 2 Linskens 2 Raman 0 H. Mestdagh 0 Hendrickx 0 Geldof DNP ITA Zandalasini 23/8r Sottana 17 Ress 9/7r Crippa 6 Penna 5 Gorini 4 Formica 2 Dotto 0 Cinili 0 De Pretto 0 Masciadri 0

Turkey vs. Greece 55-84 TUR Hollingsworth 15/10r Cakir Turgut 11 Alben 10 Caglar 6 Koksal 6 Canitez 3 Bilgic 2 Senyurek 1 Cora 1 Vardarli Demirmen 0 Ivegin Uner 0 Ural DNP GRE Maltsi 25/10r Spanou 11 Kaltsidou 10/6r/6a Christinaki 9 Lymoura 7/7r/10a Fassoula 6 Stamolamprou 6 Nikolopoulou 4 Spyridopoulou 3 Sotiriou 3 Kosma 0 Stamati 0

Spain vs. Latvia 67-47 ESP Torrens 20/9r Xargay 16 Lyttle 8 Cruz 8 Palau 7 Nicholls 4/6r Dominguez 4 Gil 0/9r Rodriguez DNP Romero DNP Conde DNP Sanchez DNP LAT Putnina 15 Vitola 15 Steinberga 11/10r Krastina 3 Jakobsone 3 Brumermane 0 Basko-Melnbarde 0 Laksa 0 Kreslina 0 Strautmane DNP Babkina DNP Dreimane DNP

France vs. Slovak Republic 67-40 FRA Ayayi 13 Johannes 12 Miyem 9 Dumerc 6/8r Amant 6 Chartereau 6 Epoupa 5 Tchatchouang 3 Michel 3 Skrela 3 Ciak 1 Minte 0 SVK Balintova 13 Orozsova 6/8r Jurcenkova 5/7r Vynuchalova 5 Ruzickova 4/6r Dudasova 3 Mikulasikova 2/6r Remenarova 2 Zirkova 0 Slamova 0 Kovacikova 0

Brackets (Saturday game times local, six hours ahead of Eastern Daylight Time):

Semifinals:

Spain vs. Belgium (6:00pm) and Greece vs. France (8:30pm)

5th Place:

Latvia vs. Italy (12:30pm) and Turkey vs. Slovak Republic (3:00pm)

June 20, 2017

The knockout stages began on Tuesday with the teams that finished second and third in their groups fighting for spots in the quarterfinals.

The first game in Hradec Kralove saw Zuzana Zirkova turn back the clock and catch fire from outside to help the Slovak Republic past Ukraine 82-68.  Alina Iagupova tried to be the hero one more time for her team, but it was not enough.  Serbia was looking to set up a rematch of the final from two years ago, but Latvia took a big lead early, only to watch the defending champions fight their way back before completing a surprising tournament with a 75-70 exit.  A pair of former UTEP players in Kristine Vitola and Anete Steinberga paced Latvia.  Hungary had a shot at an upset, but Italy managed to come back and then hang on to a 49-48 win to end up as the only second place team to advance.  That’s because Styliani Kaltsidou and Greece exploded in the third quarter, then did just enough to fend off Russia 62-58, wasting Maria Vadeeva’s tremendous work inside.

The quarterfinals will be played on Thursday with winners also securing spots in next summer’s World Championship.

Ukraine vs. Slovak Republic 68-82 UKR Iagupova 24/7a Dorogobuzowa 12 Olkhovyk 11 Udodenko 8/6r Malashenko 7 Maznichenko 5 Bilotserkivska 1 Moss 0 Spitkovska DNP Horobets DNP Naumenko DNP Yatskovets DNP SVK Zirkova 31/7a Balintova 17/6r Ruzickova 13/13r Jurcenkova 11/9r Vynuchalova 6 Remenarova 4 Oroszova 0 Dudasova 0 Slamova 0 Mikulasikova DNP Kovacikova DNP

Serbia vs. Latvia 70-75 SRB Radocaj 14 Milovanovic 13 Petrovic 10 T. Jovanovic 9/8r Dabovic 9 N. Jovanovic 9 Crvendakic 3 Cado 3 Skoric 0 Krnjic 0 Stankovic 0 Mandic DNP LAT Vitola 19 Steinberga 18/11r Basko-Melnbarde 13/6r Krastina 13 Laksa 10 Babkina 2 Jakobsone 0 Putnina 0 Kreslina 0 Strautmane 0 Brumermane DNP Dreimane DNP

Italy vs. Hungary 49-48 ITA Zandalasini 17/9r Dotto 12 Sottana 12 Ress 5/11r Penna 2 Formica 1 Gorini 0 Cinili 0 Crippa 0 Masciadri 0 De Pretto 0 HUN Krivacevic 15/8r Raksanyi 7 Vandersloot 6 Fegyverneky 5 Hatar 5 Simon 5 Nagy-Bujdoso 3/8r Medgyessy 2 Zele 0 Varga 0 Licskai DNP Dubei DNP

Russia vs. Greece 58-62 RUS Vadeeva 18/21r Beliakova 11 Maiga 10 Zhedik 8 Beglova 6 Prince 3 Tikhonenko 2 Kirillova 0 Vieru 0 Musina DNP Levchenko DNP Cherepanova DNP GRE Kaltsidou 24/9r Maltsi 15/6r Spanou 8/6r Spyridopoulou 8 Sotiriou 3/6r Fasoula 2 Nikolopoulou 2 Kosma 0 Christinaki 0 Lymoura 0 Stamolamprou DNP Stamati DNP

Bracket:

Spain vs. Latvia

Belgium vs. Italy

Turkey vs. Greece

France vs. Slovak Republic

June 17, 2017

Action continued for all teams on Saturday as the picture for the knockout phase of the competition became clearer.  Sunday is a rest day before this stage finishes on Monday.

Group A:

The winners on the first day met with Spain dominating the second half to win 76-54 with the brilliant efforts of Alba Torrens.  Alina Iagupova led the way for Ukraine again, this time getting help from Taisiia Udodenko.  The group favorites later learned that they would top the group after a battle of teams that struggled on the first day.  The home crowd could not help fuel the Czech Republic as the combination of Nora Nagy-Bujdoso and Zsofia Fegyverneky got Hungary the 70-74 win.  The Czechs will have one more game against Spain while Hungary and Ukraine will battle for bracket placement.

Spain vs. Ukraine 76-54 ESP Torrens 26/8r Xargay 19 Lyttle 16/18r Cruz 6 Dominguez 4 Romero 3 Nicholls 1/7r Gil 1 Palau 0 Sanchez 0 Rodriguez 0 Conde DNP UKR Iagupova 23/8r Udodenko 21/6r Malashenko 3 Olkhovyk 3 Bilotserkivska 2 Yatskovets 2 Dorogobuzowa 0 Moss 0 Naumenko 0 Maznichenko 0 Spitkovska 0 Horobets 0

Czech Republic vs. Hungary 70-74 CZE Hanusova 17/8r Vaughn 14/6r Kat. Elhotova 14 Vyoralova 9 Burgrova 9 Zaplatova 4 Kar. Elhotova 2 Kulichova 1 Stejskalova 0 Bartakova DNP Vorackova DNP Svrdlikova DNP HUN Nagy-Bujdoso 21 Fegyverneky 20/7r/6a Vandersloot 10/7a Simon 7 Hatar 6 Zele 6 Raksanyi 3 Krivacevic 1/7r Medgyessy 0 Licskai DNP Varga DNP Dubei DNP

Standings: Spain 2-0, Hungary 1-1, Ukraine 1-1, Czech Republic 0-3

Group B:

A battle of winless teams opened the day in Hradec Kralove and Slovakia relied on the veteran presence of Zuzana Zirkova to edge the second half and beat Belarus 68-59.  The two teams that had already won met later.  Cecilia Zandalasini had another great effort, but it was Quanitra Hollingsworth that made the difference for Turkey as they won 54-53 to top the group.  Italy’s game with Slovakia on Monday will determine the placement of the other teams as the result also eliminated Belarus.

Slovak Republic vs. Belarus 68-59 SVK Zirkova 22/8r Vynuchalova 11 Balintova 9 Ruzickova 8/15r Slamova 7 Remenarova 6/6r Jurcenkova 4 Palenikova 1 Oroszova 0 Mikulasikova DNP Dudasova DNP Kovacikova DNP BLR Snytsina 12 Papova 10/6r Bentley 10 Likhtarovich 9/6r Hasper 9 Rytsikava 4 Ziuzkova 3 Kress 1/7r Inkina 1 Filonchyk DNP Holubeva DNP Ivashchanka DNP

Italy vs. Turkey 53-54 ITA Zandalasini 23/10r Ress 5/7r Sottana 5 Macchi 5 Cinili 5 Dotto 4 Formica 2 De Pretto 2 Masciadri 1 Crippa 1 Gorini 0 Penna 0 TUR Hollingsworth 29/21r Alben 8 Canitez 6/12r Caglar 4/7r Vardarli Demirmen 3 Cakir Turgut 3 Senyurek 1 Cora 0 Ivegin Uner 0 Koksal 0 Bilgic DNP Ural DNP

Standings: Turkey 2-0, Italy 1-1, Slovak Republic 1-1, Belarus 0-2

Group C:

Slovenia fought hard again, but this time they were able to hold on to the lead, edging Styliani Kaltsidou and Greece 59-56.  France cannot be eliminated, but their final placement is not set after a 73-57 win over Serbia.  The defending champions are now on the ropes, needing a win over Slovenia and a France win over Greece to avoid a shock elimination, but a good return performance from Sonja Petrovic should give them some hope.

Greece vs. Slovenia 56-59 GRE Kaltsidou 23/7r Maltsi 10/6a Spanou 9 Stamati 5 Sotiriou 4 Stamolamprou 3 Nikolopoulou 2 Lymoura 0 Kosma 0 Spyridopoulou 0 Fasoula 0 Christinaki DNP SLO Lisec 15 Oblak 11/9r/6a Erkic 11 Pirsic 7/10r Baric 5 Evans 5 Prezelj 3 Jakovina 2 Trebec 0 Zdolsek 0 Abramovic 0 Ocvirk DNP

France vs. Serbia 73-57 FRA Dumerc 17/8r Miyem 17/8r Johannes 13 Ayayi 8/6r Minte 4/10r Chartereau 4 Epoupa 2 Ciak 2 Amant 2 Michel 2 Skrela 2 Tchatchouang 0 SER Petrovic 18/7r Milovanovic 18 Krnjic 9/7r Jovanovic 4 Stankovic 3 Radocaj 2 Skoric 2 Jovanovic 1 Mandic 0 Crvendakic 0 Cado 0 Dabovic 0

Standings: France 2-0, Greece 1-1, Slovenia 1-1, Serbia 0-2

Group D:

The first game of the day in Prague was between the two teams that lost the previous day, with both teams knowing that they would probably need a win to avoid elimination.  Montenegro started well, but Latvia fought back and then dominated the final frame to win 76-55 behind Elina Babkina again.  The next game was an absolute barnburner as Russia fought back to force overtime, but grabbed the 76-75 win with the combination of Emma Meesseman and Ann Wauters.  Belgium will advance, but have not clinched the top spot yet.

Montenegro vs. Latvia 55-76 MNE Robinson 14/16r Jovanovic 13 Perovanovic 10 Skerovic 8/10a Mujovic 6 Rakovic 4 Aleksic 0 Vucetic 0 Matovic 0 Popovic 0 Milosev DNP Pasic DNP LAT Babkina 27/7a Laksa 17 Steinberga 16/10r Krastina 5 Putnina 5 Brumermane 4 Vitola 2 Basko-Melnbnarde 0/6r Strautmane 0 Dreimane 0 Jakobsone 0 Kreslina 0

Russia vs. Belgium 75-76(OT) RUS Prince 17/8r Vadeeva 16/14r Beliakova 14/8r Kirillova 9 Maiga 8/8r Tikhonenko 6/7r Beglova 5 Zhedik 0 Musina DNP Levchenko DNP Vieru DNP Cherepanova DNP BEL Meesseman 23/6r Wauters 20/9r K. Mestdagh 16 Vanloo 7 Delaere 4 Raman 3 H. Mestdagh 2 Linskens 1 Carpreaux 0 Hendrickx DNP Geldof DNP Nauwelaers DNP

Standings: Belgium 2-0, Russia 1-1, Latvia 1-1, Montenegro 0-2

June 16, 2017

The tournament started with group play on Friday as games were played in Hradec Kralove and Prague.  Five spots in next year’s World Championship in Spain are on the line.  While only the bottom team in each group will be eliminated after this stage, teams will be pushing for the top spot in their groups to advance automatically to the quarterfinals, giving them the added rest they need in this nine day tournament.

Group A:

The hosts played in the third timeslot in Hradec Kralove and debuted naturalized player Kia Vaughn, but Ukraine, which is dealing with some of the most severe absences of the tournament, came out firing and grabbed the 59-47 win as Alina Iagupova will probably make her case for the strongest individual of the tournament again.  The day closed with Spain comfortably beating Hungary 62-48.

Ukraine vs. Czech Republic 59-47 UKR Iagupova 21/7r Udodenko 10/16r Moss 7 Olkhovyk 6 Dorogobuzowa 5 Maznichenko 4 Malashenko 4 Bilotserkivska 2 Naumenko 0 Horobets 0 Spitkovska DNP Yatskovets DNP CZE Vaughn 16/6r Hanusova 8 Vyoralova 8 Kat. Elhotova 7 Burgrova 4 Zaplatova 4 Kulichova 0 Bartakova 0 Kar. Elhotova 0 Stejskalova 0 Vorackova DNP Svrdlikova DNP

Hungary vs. Spain 48-62 HUN Krivacevic 11 Vandersloot 11 Hatar 7/8r Fegyverneky 7 Simon 4/6r Zele 4 Raksanyi 4 Nagy-Bujdoso 0 Medgyessy 0 Licskai DNP Varga DNP Dubei DNP ESP Lyttle 17/12r Torrens 10 Cruz 8 Xargay 5 Nicholls 4 Palau 4 Dominguez 4 Romero 3 Rodriguez 3 Gil 2 Sanchez 2 Conde 0

Group B:

This group opened play in Hradec Kralove.  Alex Bentley made her debut as the new Belarus naturalized player, but with so many key players missing, they could not compete with Giorgia Sottana and Italy, which won 80-60 and introduced Cecilia Zandalasini on a larger scale.  Turkey had a secure lead for most of the game as they beat the Slovak Republic 69-58.

Belarus vs. Italy 60-80 BLR Bentley 17 Snytsina 13 Likhtarovich 7 Ziuzkova 7 Kress 5/7r Rytsikava 5 Papova 2/6r Hasper 2 Inkina 2 Filonchyk 0 Holubeva DNP Ivashchanka DNP ITA Sottana 20 Zandalasini 18/8r Macchi 11 Formica 6 Gorini 6 De Pretto 6 Dotto 5 Pena 3 Ress 3 Masciadri 2 Crippa 0 Cinilli 0

Turkey vs. Slovak Republic 69-58 TUR Hollingsworth 14/6r Vardarli Demirmen 12 Alben 11/6a Senyurek 10 Cakir Turgut 7 Caglar 6/8r Koksal 6 Canitez 3 Ivegin Uner 0 Bilgic DNP Cora DNP Ural DNP SVK Balintova 17/9a Ruzickova 10/6r Vynuchalova 10 Oroszova 9/6r Palenikova 6 Zirkova 4 Jurcenkova 2/6r Remenarova 0 Slamova 0 Dudasova 0 Mikulasikova DNP Kovacikova DNP

Group C:

Greece may have been missing a key player, but their remaining stars gave them a big early lead against the defending champions.  Serbia fought their way back, but could not close without their talisman, falling 69-60.  Slovenia had some early nerves to shake off, but Nika Baric pushed them to a late lead before France could fight back and escape with a 70-68 win to close an exciting day in Prague.

Serbia vs. Greece 60-69 SRB Milovanovic 17/8r Dabovic 14 Jovanovic 12 Crvendakic 6 Skoric 5 Cado 4 Jovanovic 2 Stankovic 0 Mandic 0 Radocaj 0 Petrovic DNP Krnjic DNP GRE Spanou 18 Maltsi 16/9r Kaltsidou 15/6r Sotiriou 12 Nikolopoulou 5 Spyridopoulou 3 Lymoura 0 Stamati 0 Christinaki 0 Fasoula 0 Kosma 0 Stamolamprou 0

Slovenia vs. France 68-70 SLO Baric 18 Erkic 12 Pirsic 11 Lisec 10/9r Evans 10 Oblak 6/6r Abramovic 1 Zdolsek 0 Trebec 0 Prezelj DNP Jakovina DNP Ocvirk DNP FRA Ciak 16 Miyem 12 Tchatchouang 10 Michel 9 Amant 8 Minte 5 Johannes 5 Dumerc 4/6r/6a Skrela 1 Epoupa 0/6r Ayayi 0 Chartereau 0

Group D:

Play opened in Prague with Kim Mestdagh and Emma Meesseman helping Belgium build a lead on Montenegro, only to see themselves needing to hang on for dear life against Angel Robinson, Jelena Skerovic, and company as both teams wished they had a few more pieces available.  Elina Babkina and Latvia started well, but Epiphanny Prince helped Russia fight back and fend off a late comeback to win 71-59.

Belgium vs. Montenegro 66-64 BEL K. Mestdagh 19 Meesseman 18/7r Carpreaux 12 Wauters 8 Delaere 7 Vanloo 2 Hendrickx 0 H. Mestdagh 0 Raman 0 Linskens 0 Geldof DNP Nauwelaers DNP MNE Robinson 19/17r Skerovic 18/6r Perovanovic 10 Jovanovic 8 Mujovic 5/7a Aleksic 2 Popovic 2 Vucetic 0 Matovic 0 Milosev DNP Rakovic DNP Pasic DNP

Latvia vs. Russia 59-71 LAT Babkina 20 Steinberga 15/12r Basko-Melnbarde 9/8r Putnina 6 Brumermane 4 Laksa 3 Krastina 2 Vitola 0 Kreslina 0 Jakobsone 0 Strautmane 0 Dreimane DNP RUS Prince 19/9r Vadeeva 15/12r Beliakova 12 Beglova 9 Maiga 4 Vieru 4 Kirillova 4 Tihonenko 2 Cherepanova 2 Musina 0 Zhedik 0 Levchenko DNP