Mayo's Finn captains Ireland to Under 20 European basketball quarterfinals
IRELAND are through to the quarterfinals of the FIBA Under 20 Women’s European Championship following a hard-fought 67-64 win over tournament hosts Romania, led by their Mayo captain, Hazel Finn.
University of Galway Mystics player Hazel, from Kiltimagh, exemplified the defensive determination amongst the team with 10 steals, to go along with her 18 points.
Sarah Hickey also shone with her all-round game, picking up nine rebounds, five points, four assists and three steals. There were big performances from Lucy Coogan and Kara McCleane too - they had 14 points apiece and eight and four rebounds respectively.
Ireland built a 20-12 lead after the first quarter, but the next two were honours even, Karl Kilbride’s side maintaining their eight-point advantage going into the final quarter, 55-47.
The home side rallied in the fourth quarter and took the lead 63-61 with 3’10 remaining, thanks to Anisia Croitoru’s three-point jump shot.
Ireland were unfazed and a McCleane free-throw and Maria Kealy’s layup helped nudge them back in front, 64-63, with a little over a minute remaining.
Three free throws from Finn down the stretch was enough to give Ireland a 67-64 win and with it a place in the last eight.
Under 20 women’s assistant head coach, Niamh Dwyer, said: “What a gutsy performance from the girls. When we needed to dig deep and do the hard work and the dirty work, we showed we can compete with anyone in this (tournament) and to get to a quarterfinal with a victory like that is going to stand to us.”
Ireland won their opening game against Greece, 80-74, last Friday and their final Group B game is against Georgia on Wednesday at 11 a.m. Victory over the Georgians will secure top spot in Group B, before Ireland’s quarterfinal this Friday, where they will face opponents from Group A.
Ireland: Katie Flanagan (DNP), Emma Glavin (6), Sinead Keane (0), Sarah Hickey (5), Ellie Glavin (0), Hazel Finn (18), Maria Kealy (8), Kara McCleane (14), Emily Smyth (0), Ella O’Donnell (2), Micalah Fubara (0), Lucy Coogan (14).