Spain defends U20 crown, Turkey wins first youth women’s medal

Spain successfully defended their U20 European Championship for Women crown today with a decisive 59-46 win over Russia. In the bronze medal match the women from Turkey earned their country’s first ever medal in women’s youth competition by holding off a fast charging Dutch squad, to earn a spot on the podium.
Tiknonenko was named the tournament MVP. The rest of the all-tournament team was: Olcay Cakir (Turkey), Marlona Ortiz (Spain), Alina Iagupova (Ukraine) and Queralt Casas (Spain).

Spain’s Laura Gil drives the lane. Photo courtesy: FIBA

Gold Medal Game
Spain – Russia 58-56

Spain jumped out to a 12-1 margin before Russia’s Galina Kiseleva dropped in a three-pointer to end the quarter at 12-4.
Russia regrouped during the break and came out playing much more aggressively. Unfortunately they were only able to hold their ground through the quarter and took a 26-19 deficit into the locker room at half.
Spain kept on the pressure in the third quarter and with the eight points from Queralt Casas they were able to not give any ground. Russia was able to cut the margin to five points, only to have it blow back up to 12 shortly after. Spain controlled the glass, out-rebounding the Russians 42-29 during the contest, only allowing one shot on most trips down the court.
Russia’s Svetlana Efimova sank two free throws and a lay-up to open the fourth and cut Spain’s margin to six. Spain kept pounding the ball inside though and within a couple of minutes the lead had grown to 13, where it was at the end of the contest, giving them a return trip to the top of the podium.
Casas led Spain with 17, Laura Gil added 10 points and 16 rebounds, and Inmaculada Zanogura contributed 10. Russia was led by Ksenia Tiknonenko’s 12 points and Yulia Poluyanova’s 10.

Bronze Medal Game
Turkey – Netherlands 58-56

Turkey came into their bronze medal match with the Dutch looking to earn their country’s first medal in youth women’s competition and their place next to the winning Spanish team is a milestone in Turkey Basketball.
The Turks set the tone early, knocking down the first nine points before the Netherlands hit a pair of free throws after three minutes had ticked off. At the end of the first quarter Turkey held a 21-14 advantage and at the half they were up 40-28 with the game seemingly in hand.
The Netherlands came out in the third quarter and cut the margin to four, but three-pointers by Ayse Cora and Özge Kavurmacioglu, pushed the lead back to 12 going into the fourth quarter, 50-38.
A deuce by Sonja Kuijt, then a layup by Marlou de Kleijn and back-to-back threes by Sharon Lammerink (her third of the frame) and the game went from 13 points to two, with 1:47 to play. Emel Guler hit a jumper for Turkey with 1:18 to play the turned out to be the game winner as Jamailah Adams drove the lane and cut the score to 58-56 with 1:00 on the clock.

Turkey’s Olcay Cakir (4), takes the Netherlands’ Jamailah Adams to the basket. Photo courtesy: FIBA


Cora missed a three-pointer for Turkey with 36 seconds to play, with the rebound going to the Dutch. de Kleijn missed a lay-up, the Netherlands got the rebound, Adams missed a jumper that was grabbed off the boards by van der Keijl and passed to Adams, who missed a lay-up with eight seconds, that was gathered by Turkey’s Cakir to end the contest and send the squad from Turkey to the medal stand for the first time.
Cora paced Turkey with 17 points and Cakir added 15. Lammerink turned in 15 points and 10 rebounds, de Kleijn added 14 points and van der Keijl contributed 10 in the loss.

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