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08 - 13
July 2016
6 Viktoria Gegeshidze (GEO)
13/07/2016
News
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Late run gets Georgia a date with Armenia in the Final

TBILISI (FIBA U18 Women's European Championship 2016 Division C) - It all comes down to two names in Georgia. The host team will play Armenia in the Final, in what will be a battle of the unbeaten teams.

There was no doubt about the game hero for Georgia in the Semi-Finals. Andorra's Mariona Palou Vidal made it a one-possession game at the start of the fourth quarter, but Natalia Otkhmezuri had all the answers needed to guide Georgia over the line. Otkhmezuri went on a solo 9-0 run during the quarter to give Georgia a 73-61 advantage with four minutes to go. She later added four more points to set the final score at 77-67.

Otkhmezuri finished the game with 29 points on 8-of-13 shooting from the field, while also grabbing five rebounds and stealing the ball on five occasions. Viktoria Gegeshidze added 19 points for Georgia. Andorra will have to bounce back from the heartbreak and fight for bronze on Wednesday. Maria Martin Moline had 28 points and seven steals for Andorra, but they lost the rebounding battle 60-35.

In the other Semi-Final Armenia switched gears at the beginning of the final period to secure a 59-43 win over Malta. A 12-3 run by Armenia made it 54-34 with five minutes left, and there was no coming back from Malta after that.

Viktoria Tonoyan had a monster game for the winners. Her 19 points and 18 rebounds are also a warning for Georgia heading into the Final. Anna Aslanian also had a double-double for Armenia, finishing with 12 points and 13 rebounds, while also stealing the ball four times. Armenia dominated all statistical categories, with the 59-42 rebounding edge being crucial, as they only shot 31 percent from the field. Hannah Al Tumi had 13 points for Malta.

The Final day of the competition will also see a game for fifth place between Kosovo and Wales. Gibraltar finish the tournament in seventh spot after their 41-37 loss to Wales on Tuesday.

FIBA