ITA/NED - Italy top Netherlands to reignite campaign

ALMERE (EuroBasket Women) - Italy gave themselves fresh hope of qualifying for the EuroBasket Women as they pulled off a critical road win over the Netherlands, 70-60.

Jenifer Nadalin came up with 20 points as Italy used a 13-2 run in the third quarter to give themselves some separation from the hosts.

Smothering defense in the fourth quarter wrapped up a win that moves Italy to 2-2.

Kathrin Ress contributed 11 points, seven rebounds and four assists for Italy while Leoni Kooij excelled again for Netherlands with a double-double of 20 points and 12 rebounds.

Croatia and Belgium are also at 2-2 in Group A, all one game behind Lithuania (3-1), after Croatia topped Belgium 85-70.

Croatia, who beat Italy on the road to open the campaign, were desperate for the win after back-to-back losses.

Ana Lelas led the way with 14 points, eight rebounds and five assists.

Iva Sliskovic had 18 points and seven rebounds while Sandra Mandir added 17 points and six rebounds.

Ann Wauters led Belgium with 21 points and nine rebounds.

Montenegro's impressive run shows no sign of ending as they routed Turkey 70-52 to improve to 4-0 at the top of Group C.

Montenegro outscored Turkey 21-12 in the second quarter to bust the game open.

Jelena Dubljevic had 19 points, seven rebounds and four assists, while Iva Perovanovic added 18 points, six rebounds and six assists.

Nevriye Nilmaz led the Turkish resistance with 16 points.

Turkey drop to 3-1, and sit second, just ahead of Bulgaria, who are 2-2 after cruising to an 88-65 victory over winless Finland.

Donneka Hodges had 20 points to lead Bulgaria to the win.

The Slovak Republic's Group D campaign got off to a hot start as they beat Great Britain 67-76 on the road.

Luisa Michulkova scored 17 of her 19 points in the second half as Pokey Chatman's team dominated the third quarter and held off Britain down the stretch.
WNBA draft pick Jo Leedham led Britain with 17 points.

Germany joined Slovak Republic at the top of the early standings with a 60-56 win over Ukraine on the road.

Linda Frohlich led the way with 15 points and six rebounds.

Latvia grabbed top spot in Group B with a lopsided 76-47 rout of Romania on the road.

Even without Anete Jekabsone-Zogota Latvia had far too much for Romania to handle as they laid down a marker.

Elina Babkina's three-pointer sparked a 20-5 second quarter run that put Latvia in complete control.

Gunto Basko was the top scorer with 11 but Kristine Karklina collected her 10 points and six rebounds in just 20 minutes.

Latvia move above, who had opened group play on Thursday with a 93-65 win over Serbia as Lira Cohen scored 26 points and Shay Doron added 20.

FIBA