FRA/BRA - France overcome wobble against Brazil to set up semi-final with Spain

KLAIPEDA (FIBA U19 World Championship for Women) - France will play Spain in the first Semi-Final of the FIBA U19 World Championship for Women in Klaipeda after Les Bleues shrugged off a worrying third quarter drought against Brazil, to collect a 51-39 success.

Despite being without injured shooting guard Lidija Turcinovic, France were rampant from the tip-off when they jumped into a commanding 25-12 lead. And, they were still in the driver seat heading to the locker rooms at the half, holding a handy 12-point advantage.

However, the wheels almost come off in spectacular fashion as Brazil returned to the court with renewed vigour and a rejuvenated defensive intensity.

Janeth Arcain and her team made some adjustments and locked down the French offence by holding their opponents to a paltry three points in nine minutes.

That enabled them to make it a one basket game at 34-32, but crucially, France doubled their scoring for period with a big triple by Marie-Eve Paget.

It gave France a kickstart for the final quarter and the game turned heavily back in their favour when firstly Paget made another triple and Valeriane Ayayi dropped successive downtown daggers to make it 48-35 and effectively kill-off Brazilian hopes.

Ayayi and point guard Olivia Epoupa got the job done for their team with a shared 34 points, 14 rebounds.

FIBA