Latvia's U-18 women's basketball team loses to Poland, advances to Round of 16
The Latvian U-18 women's basketball team lost 70:73 to Poland on Monday in Stockholm in their final group game at the European Championship. Latvia will now face one of the teams from Group C in the Round of 16.
Latvia's U-18 women's basketball team concluded the Group D phase of the European Championship with a 70:73 (19:24, 19:12, 19:27, 13:10) loss to Poland on Monday in Stockholm. Despite the defeat, Latvia advanced to the Round of 16, where they will meet a side from Group C.
Mila Luzgina led Latvia with 25 points and five assists. Anete Ozoliņa added 15 points and six rebounds, while Marta Ploriņa contributed 12 points and seven rebounds. All three players finished with five personal fouls. For Poland, Nadja Klobukovska scored 24 points, Helena Daneleviča had 14 points and six rebounds, and Zuzanna Marčinska recorded 10 points and 16 rebounds.
Latvia lost the rebounding battle 36:51 and committed more fouls than Poland, 25:17. The Latvians had fewer turnovers, 11 to 16, but did not block a single shot; Poland blocked five.
The game started with Latvia taking an early lead after two-point baskets from Ozoliņa and Luzgina. Latvia stayed ahead until the middle of the first quarter, when Poland went on an 11:0 run and later moved in front 18:10. In the second quarter, two Luzgina free throws briefly put Latvia up 29:28. Poland regained a small lead, but with eight seconds left in the half, Ozoliņa hit a three-pointer to make it 38:36.
Poland pulled away again in the third quarter, building a 58:50 advantage after two free throws by Klobukovska. Latvia responded with a 13:2 run at the start of the fourth, taking a 70:68 lead after a Ploriņa basket. With 13.3 seconds remaining, Šarlote Skrebele missed both free throws, missing a chance to tie the game at 70:72. Poland's Martina Stenpiņska then made one of two free throws, and Emija Gulbe's late three-point attempt with two seconds left did not drop.
Earlier in the tournament, Latvia defeated Croatia 72:64 and lost to Serbia 60:64. Poland beat Serbia 75:52 and Croatia 85:76. Group C consists of Spain, Montenegro, Turkey and Slovenia.
In preparation for the championship, Latvia played six games at a tournament in China, lost twice to Israel in Riga, and split two games against Germany. At the Baltic Cup, they lost to Turkey and beat Lithuania and Estonia. The coaching staff includes head coach Rūdolfs Rozītis, assistants Mudīte Gūtmane and Edgars Ikstens, and physical coach Ivars Ikstens.
