Greece win in Samokov to qualify for Eurobasket 2009

Fight for every ball

10-09-2008 21:35

Greece sealed their place in next year's EuroBasket Women in Riga, Latvia, with a 76-65 victory at Bulgaria on Wednesday evening.

The Greeks improved to 4-1 with a game against third-place Belgium (2-3) remaining.
Victory in that contest would assure Greece of a first-place finish in Group D ahead of Serbia, whose victory over the Belgians on Wednesday night has given them a 3-2 record.

Styliani Kaltsidou led a terrific team effort by the Greeks with 19 points and 10 rebounds against the Bulgarians.

Greece had an 11-point lead in the third quarter cut to just five (51-46) by the end of the frame but the Bulgarians got no closer over the final 10 minutes.

The Greeks killed Bulgaria with their three-point shooting, hitting 12 of 18 (66.7%) on the night.

Kaltsidou was particularly effective from long range, making four of six while Dimitra Kalentzou was also a perfect three of three.

Bulgaria hurt themselves with a four of 20 effort from behind the arc, and by making just 19 of 28 at the free throw line.