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09 - 17
July 2016
18/07/2016
News
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Slovenia take gold, Hungary earn promotion

PODGORICA (FIBA U20 Women's European Championship 2016 Division B) - Slovenia have won the title, defeating the previously unbeaten Lithuania 62-45 in the Final. Hungary claimed promotion in the tightest of fashion.

Alma Potocnik scored 23 points, grabbed nine rebounds and stole the ball four times as Slovenia turned a four-point half-time deficit into a 17-point win at the end. Damir Grgic's team allowed only 21 points in the last two periods, scoring 42 at the other end of the floor. Slovenia finished with 20 steals and 26 offensive rebounds, more than enough to make up for a poor shooting night (27%).

Potocnik had a lot of help from the Championship MVP, Annamaria Prezelj, who had 16 points and six steals in the Final, finishing with averages of 19.0 points, 5.5 assists and 3.5 rebounds.

Prezelj was the only Slovenian in the All-Star Five, being joined by Lithuania's Laura Juskaite and Daugile Sarauskaite, Czech Republic's Petra Holesinska, and the hero of the day, Debora Franciska Dubei from Hungary.

Hungary were trailing 49-47 with less than a minute left in the Third-Place match-up when Dubei took responsibility, connecting on a game-winning triple with 30 seconds remaining. The game finished 50-49, which means Hungary will join Slovenia and Lithuania in Division A next summer. Dubei finished with a game-high 19 points, hitting both of her long range attempts.

Great Britain finished 5th, following their 63-46 win over Montenegro. Croatia won the battle for 7th spot, defeating Romania 64-62. Ukraine defeated Belarus 53-48 to finish top of Classification Group 9-13. Israel finished in 10th place with a 68-24 win against Ireland. Belarus, Bulgaria and Ireland took 11th, 12th and 13th place respectively.

FIBA