FRA - Italy, Sweden advance; Spain win Group E

LILLE (EuroBasket Women/FIBA World Championship for Women) - Italy and Sweden continued their dream runs at the EuroBasket Women on Monday by winning games to book Quarter-Final places and Spain also won their battle for Group E supremacy against Turkey.

The top five teams at the event in France qualify for next year's FIBA World Championship in Turkey.

If the Turks end up in the first five at the EuroBasket, the top six teams will book places for next year's tournament.

The Azzurre, who scraped their way into Round 2 with just a single win over the Swedes, punched their ticket to the last eight with a 66-60 triumph over Montenegro in the first game of the day.

The Italians led by as many as six points in the first half but went to the break down 45-34 and looked as if they were in trouble.

Raffaella Masciadri, the 32-year-old small forward, poured in nine third quarter points and Giorgia Sottana added seven as Italy outscored their opponents 22-9 to go back in front, 56-54.

Italy stayed on top the rest of the way.

The Italians showed a battling spirit that bodes well for the future.

Sweden, making their first appearance in a European Championship since 1987, have sure created a buzz back home by reaching the last eight.

They survived a close encounter against the Slovak Republic, 75-72, to reach the last eight.

Italy, finishing third in Group E, will take on surprise package Serbia in the Quarter-Finals while the Swedes face the daunting test of a clash with tournament hosts France.

Sweden could have lost by seven and still advanced and they faced the potential prospect of overtime late when the Slovakians charged back after trailing by as many as 16 points.

Lucia Kupcikova, who led the Slovak Republic with 15 points, had a chance to nail a three-pointer at the buzzer to force overtime but missed.

Ashley Key hit four important free-throws down the stretch for Sweden, who got 17 points apiece from Elisabeth Egnell and Frida Eldebrink.

Spain opened up a 15-point lead over Turkey at half-time with Sancho Lyttle scoring and leading the rebounding.

Ceyhun Yildizoglu’s team fought back in the third quarter, outscoring Spain 21-11 to cut the deficit to 43-38.

The Spaniards began the final quarter with a 10-0 run to take command for good, with Laura Nicholls, Lyttle, Marta Xargay and Lyttle again providing the points

Spain will take on the Czech Republic in the Quarter-Finals.

Turkey must face Belarus and if they win, a rematch with France in the Semi-Finals could await them.

FIBA