Three Day Recap Preparation Games

Sweden are on the last leg of their preparation before the Eurobasket additional qualifiers begin next week with their first opponent Ukraine. While for Belgium this was the first opportunity to put into play the fruits of their intensive training camp. For Laurent Buffard, the chance to play 3 matches on consecutive days is ideal preparation for the rhythm of Eurobasket 2007.

The first Match was played in Stockholm and went the way of Belgium (67-44) with Anne Wauters scoring 18 points and taking 12 rebound and Captain Kathy Wambe scoring 9 points and dishing out 3 assists. Belgium dominated the game from the beginning to end with an excellent success rate from mid distance (70% for the night).

Wauters and Wambe combined for the first 11 points as Belgium went ahead (11:5). With everything in place defensively, Buffard was able to turn his bench and still maintain a comfortable margin of 10 points at the interval. Despite the dominance by the quests, it was only in the last 3 minutes of the 3rd period that Belgium took final control hitting their guests for 10 consecutive points and extending their lead to 20 points. The final period was just a formality and Belgium won comfortable with all 12 players scoring.


Sweden – Belgium 44-67 (15-25, 13-13, 8-18, 8-11)
Sweden: Elin Eldebrink 14, Anna Barthold 8, Elisabeth Egnell 7, Linnea Liljestrand 5, Kadidja Andersson 5, Frida Eldebrink 3, Louice Halvarsson 2.

Belgium: Leemans 3, Carpréaux 2, Medevedeva 2, Callens 4, Wambe 9, De Mondt 4, Deyaert 4, Van Malderen 6 (4rbds), Wauters 18 , Boonen 3 , Decroos 4, Van den Vonder 8



The second match was played in Täby and this time it was Milan Veverka the happier of the two coaches despite the fact that Sweden lost (78-76). Anne Wauters hit a game high 26 points for the guest but it was the performance of the Eldebrink twins (35 points between them and Kadidja Anderson (16 points) that was the talk of the evening. In a match that had no resemblance to the first, Belgium appeared to have the latch won with a 10 point lead going into the final period but lack of concentration and maybe tiredness allowed Sweden right back into the match to set up a nail biting finish.


Sweden – Belgium 76-78 (18-21, 24-21, 16-26, 18-10)
Sweden: Frida Eldebrink 25, Kadidja Andersson 16, Anna Barthold 12, Elin Eldebrink 10, Linnea Liljestrand 5, Louice Halvarsson 4, Katarina Andersson 2, Frida Grahn 2.

Belgium: Medvedeva 7, Carpréaux, Wambe 9, De Mondt 14, Charlier, Leemans, Deyaert 4, Van Malderen 13, Wauters 26 , Decroos 3, Van den Vonder 2


Sweden won the final match of the series this evening in Uppsala (78-71). Belgium started the final period more positives of the two teams and had a six point lead (59-65) off the 20th point of Kambe Wambe. The last 7 minutes then became difficult as the hosts clawed back the deficit initially from the foul line and then tied the game (65-65) through Frida Eldebrink. Sweden finally went in front after Lijestrand was fouled while attempting a 3-point shot hit 2-from-3 from the charity stripes. Belgium now forced to chase the game and as a result turned the ball over a little to often and were punished time and time again from the free throw line and as a consequence lost the match.

Anne Wauters did not play today for Belgium. Kathy Wambe hit game high 20 points in a losing cause while Linnea Liljestrand scored 18 points for Sweden.