Lithuania First Blow Kills France

Lithuania 68 – France 45

Lithuania came out strong in the first and never looked back. They played a tough defense that didn’t allow France score a single field goal in the first. All the  points in the first from Grerory Halin’s team from the charity stripe, making it 18-3. France’s strong defense avoid a first quarter disaster, since Lithuania was controlling the game.  

Any further try from France to get bask into the game was useless. Allison Vernerey scored France’s first field goal, making it 23-5, but the game continued in the same path. Diandra Tchatchouang had a sluggish game and had to sit in the bench since she picked up her third foul in the minute four of the second. Laurie Datchy lead her team in the game with 14 pts, 8 of them came in the second, when she scored 8 from France’s eleven points to reach the interval 33-14.

After the break France could only trade baskets with a Lithuanian team that had no problems to keep its advantage until the end of the game, thanks to the defence played by Ramune Kumpiene’s team that forced France to make a 18-of-59 (30%) in two points shots and 1-of-16 in three pointers (6%), grabbing 52 boards for 45 from France to cruise to the final victory, 68-45.

Giedre Paugaite had 15 pts and 11 boards for Lithuania, Aurime Rinkeviciute added 22 pts and 9 boards, Maria Solopova added 17 pts and Egle Siksniute had 14 pts and 7 boards.

France’s Allison Vernerey had 12 pts and 9 rebounds, Laurie Datchy added 14 pts and Mèdélomé Medenou had 11 boards and 3 points.