France Claims Third Straight 30 Point Victory

France 71 – Croatia 35

France’s defensive effort wasn’t rewarded on the offensive end but it didn’t avoid France to control the game from the very first minute. Gregory Halin’s girls lead 11-6 in the first 4:37, leading to a time out from Stipe Balic, with Diandra Tchatchouang and Diandra Vernerey scoring 4 points each in the spurt.

After the timeout France improved in the offense and made an 8-0 run –Mèdélomé Menedou scored 6 points- that put them 19-6 with 1:54 remaining. Mia Carapina cut the run and scored the last five points of  her team in the quarter and made it 22-11 for France.

In the second both teams struggled again to score. Allison Vernerey scored points for France in the first 2:10 to make it 26-13, but then France stopped scoring for two minutes and a half which Croatia used to closed the gap with a 6-0 run, 26-19, with 5:25 for the break, but just a minute after France got back into business. Isabelle Strunc started a 12-4 run in that last four minutes of the half to help France leading at the break 38-23.

Back from the lockers France left Croatia scoreless for eight minutes. Tea Buzov cut the drought with 1:56 remaining, making it 49-25. France wasn’t able to increase its lead due to Croatia’s defensive improvement and entered the fourth 51-25 in front.

France stroke again in the beginning of the fourth with a 7-2 run in the first 2:30, making it 58-25, and then traded baskets with the Croatian outfit until the end of the game. Both teams struggled in the offense during the quarter.

Stipe Bralic based all his game in Mia Carapina in the last five minutes of the game. During the whole game he lean into her and Tomica Bacic, but it didn’t avoid France to win its third straight game by a thirty poing lead, 71-35.

Diandra Tchatchouang had 17 points and 8 boards and Mèdélomé Medenou added 12 pts and 10 boards for France.

For Croatia Mia Carapina had 15 pts and grabbed 7 boards.