ITA - The Azzurre defense never rests

LILLE (EuroBasket Women) – It’s often said that in sports, a great defense can make up for a lot of shortcomings.

One look at Italy’s team at the EuroBasket Women and you know that’s the truth.

Italy are aren’t tall, and they lack experience. Nine players are appearing in the competition for the first time.

The Azzurre offense often grinds to a halt.

Roberto Ricchini’s squad, however, has won two vitally important games at the EuroBasket Women to move to within touching distance of a spot in the Quarter-Finals.

The team has beaten Sweden and the Slovak Republic because of its ability to play defense.

"Our defense is our point of force,” 20-year-old point guard Francesca Dotto said to FIBA.com.

"We are aggressive."

In their win over the Swedes on the opening day of Group B, the biggest defensive play was made by Italy’s Kathrin Ress.

The 1.96m center blocked Frida Eldebrink’s potential game-winning lay-up at the death for a 64-63 triumph.

The Italian defense also came to the fore against the Slovakians on Saturday, when they forced 26 turnovers - 15 in the first half.

Their best on-the-ball defender is Dotto, who led Italy with three steals against the Slovak Republic and was extremely disruptive in her 18 minutes off the bench.

Raffaella Masciadri, the team’s 32-year-old forward, said: “Of course, we are one of the smallest teams so we have to put as much pressure on the ball as we can, to not let their offense make the easy pass inside.

"That's where we are not so strong, so the defense gives us more intensity, more energy on offense. That's how we want to play."

The presence of Dotto is crucial and the same can be said of the 24-year-old Giulia Gatti.

"Both of them are able to put full pressure on the court, also for 40 minutes,” Masciadri said, “and so I'm very happy for them and I hope for them every success in the EuroBasket.”

If Italy win against Montenegro on Monday, they will clinch a spot in the Quarter-Finals.

Should they lose and Sweden beat the Slovak Republic, then the Swedes, Italy and Montenegro would be in a three-way tie and goal differential in the games between the three sides would determine places three, four and five in Group E.

FIBA