Ambrosimova Leads Russia Pass Italy

RUSSIA 67 – ITALY 59

Italy switched one on one to zone defense during the game trying avoid that Russia pulled away and hoping to have a chance against Thikonenko’s team. Italy put ahead in the early stages, 8-5 after back to back three pointers from Raffaella Maciadri and Simona Ballardini.  Svetlana Ambrosimova answered also with a trey which sparked a 7-0 run capped by Maria Stepanova and put Russia in front until the end of the first, 12-8. Ambrosimova was excellent leading and scoring for Russia, scoreing 12 pts from Russia’s 23. Ballardini lead Italy with 10 pts and scored the buzzer beater three pointer to enter the second 23-19 ahead.

In the second the game faded with both teams struggling to score and committing mistakes. After 8:30 the run was 7-5. In the last 1:30 each team scored five points to make it 35-29 at the break after a buzzer beater from Svetlana Ambrosimova.

After the break Italy continued switching defenses and the Russian offense struggled and was erratic. Italy started the third closing the gap to four points, 37-33, after a Jumper from Raffaella Masciadri but Russia answered immediately with a 7-0 run – Arteshina, a trey from Ambrosimova and Korstin- to reach double digit margin, 44-33, leading to Italy’s timeout after 4 minutes. Italy came back and answered with back to back baskets from Laura Macchi and Katrin Ress making it 44-37 with 2:30 remaining. Then became trading Turing which Valery Tikhonenko called time out due to his team difficulties to close the game, and the third finished 49-40 for Rusia.

Italy got into six points, 50-44, after an Adriana Grasso basket but immediately after received a 7-0 run to put Russia again in double digit margin, 57-44, after five minutes. The late attempts from the Azzurri to upset the Russians were in vain. Teams struggled in the last five minutes as both teams failed in scoring and the baskets dropped slowly reaching the end of the game with the final 67-59.

Svetalana Ambrosimova lead Russia at the point and in scoring with 19 pts and 9 boards. Maria Stepanova and Ilona Korstin scored 14 apiece and Russia out-rebounded Italy 41-32 but turn the ball over five more times, 18-13.

For Italy Laura Macchi scored 15 pts and Simona Ballardini 13.