Day 4 review: Semi-Finalists confirmed
ORADEA (FIBA U20 Women's European Championship 2018, Division B) – The race for promotion at the FIBA U20 Women's European Championship 2018, Division B is down to just four teams.
ORADEA (FIBA U20 Women's European Championship 2018, Division B) – The race for promotion at the FIBA U20 Women's European Championship 2018, Division B is down to just four teams after Belarus, Czech Republic, Lithuania and Romania confirmed their Semi-Final spots in Oradea.
Although the last game day of the Group Phase is yet to be played, the four teams have already done enough to secure top-two finishes in the standings of their respective groups.
The tournament hosts Romania maintained their unbeaten record in Group A with a 64-43 victory against Israel, as 18-year-old small forward Maria Ferariu netted a game-high 17 points and adding 7 rebounds.
The Maria Ferariu-led Romania are yet to be defeated in Oradea
The result put the home side firmly atop the standings with a 4-0 mark, while also sending through second-placed Lithuania, 3-1, through to the medal round after the Baltic side clipped Greece 75-71 despite wasting a double-digit second-half lead.
Lurita Jurciute was Lithuania's top scorer with 17 points, Livija Sakeviciute turned in a fine 15-point, 8-rebound, 3-steal and 2-block effort, while Elena Tsineke had 16 points for Greece.
Despite getting a 70-59 win over Great Britain and improving to a 2-2 mark, Ukraine's promotion hopes were extinguished by Romanian and Lithuanian victories.
Czech Republic confirmed the top spot in Group B
Meanwhile, Czech Republic and Belarus moved into the next phase of the competition from Group B after scraping by in close-fought, one-possession contests against Bulgaria and Denmark respectively.
Lucie Hoskova and Veronika Vorackova paced a well-rounded team effort to lead the Czechs to a 69-67 win over Bulgaria. Hoskova had a team-high 15 points, Vorockova added 14 points and 7 assists, but the main story of the game was Czech Republic leading their opponents 18-9 in the assists department.
After starting the tournament with a defeat to Czech Republic, Belarus clinched the second ticket to the Semi-Finals with their consecutive win in a 75-73 nail-biter against Denmark.
Less than 3⃣ seconds on the ⏲️ and 🏀on your own baseline.
— Paul Nilsen (@basketmedia365) July 11, 2018
Not a problem for 🇩🇰 and Nikoline Agmund 👌👀👀👀
📺 https://t.co/H2ZDDJJBPp
📝 https://t.co/rWpeSy6PWT #FIBAU20Europe pic.twitter.com/n5RNgFu4VE
Maryia Vasileuka and Aryna Masko combined for 42 points for the winners, while Lena Svanholm collected 24 points and 9 rebounds in a losing effort for the Danes.
In the only other game of the day, Ilayda Guner worked her magic once again to help Turkey defeat Iceland 76-57, but they will need to put their Division A dreams aside for at least a year.
On the last day of the Group Phase, Romania and Lithuania will play it out for the top spot in Group A, while Czech Republic have already clinched the Group B crown ahead of Belarus.
FIBA