Latvia's U-18 women's basketball team loses to France in European Championship quarterfinal
Latvia's U-18 women's basketball team lost 57:73 to France in the quarterfinals in Stockholm and will now compete for 5th-8th place. Latvia will face Poland on Saturday.
Latvia's U-18 women's national basketball team saw its medal hopes end on Thursday in Stockholm, where the side lost 57:73 to France in the European Championship quarterfinal. The quarter scores were 13:18, 21:18, 19:21 and 4:16.
Marta Ploriņa led Latvia with 16 points and ten rebounds. Šarlote Skrebele, Anete Ozoliņa and Mila Luzgina each added eight points, with Luzgina also recording five assists and six turnovers. For France, Telma Leraja posted 17 points and 13 rebounds, Astrida Kurbo scored 15 points, and two other players finished with ten points apiece.
Latvia managed to challenge France at several stages. After Anete Ozoliņa's free throw in the second quarter, Latvia took a 23:20 lead, and Santa Ozola's free throws early in the second half tied the game at 38:38. Šarlote Skrebele's three-pointer with around a minute left in the third quarter again made it 53:53, but France responded and pulled away in the final period. Latvia was outrebounded 29:49.
Earlier in the tournament, Latvia beat Croatia 72:64, lost to Serbia 60:64 and Poland 70:73 in Group D, then defeated Slovenia 54:48 in the round of 16. France topped Hungary 70:49, the Czech Republic 69:46 and Germany 65:58 in Group A, and beat Sweden 71:50 in the round of 16. By reaching the top eight, both teams secured their place in next year's A division.
On Saturday, France will face Finland in the medal round, while Latvia will meet Poland in the 5th-8th place bracket. During preparation, Latvia played six test games in China, lost twice to Israel in Riga and split two games in Germany. In the Baltic Cup, they lost to Turkey but beat Lithuania and Estonia.
The Latvian team is coached by Rūdolfs Rozītis, assisted by Mudīte Gūtmane and Edgars Ikstens, with Ivars Ikstens as physical preparation coach. The squad included Mila Luzgina, Jasmīne Šmate, Arta Ulle, Zane Dzenīte, Santa Ozola, Emija Gulbe, Madlēna Pērse, Marta Ploriņa, Ieva Vēvere, Anete Ozoliņa, Šarlote Skrebele and Kerlīna Balode.
