GB WOMEN THROUGH TO FINAL EIGHT
07/04/2009

The GB women have progressed into the final eight at the World University Games, after beating France 80-56.

Once again Jo Leedham led the way with 18 points, while captain Chantelle Handy hit a double-double with 16 points and 10 rebounds. Georgia Jones also added 16 points while Mairi Buchan took 13 rebounds.

"The game started a little slow but by the second half we picked things up and played hard and fought through the mistakes we had made in the first half," said Handy.

"So now we are in the final 8 and our first game is against the Czech Rep, it's going to be a tough game because they are a strong team.

"We need to go in and be ready to play and do the things that we have been working on over the past three games which is to win possessions and play team defence.

"Going into the top eight is a great step for GB and we have earned som respect and we need to keep moving forward."

Britain won each quarter but they inflicted the most damage in the third which they won 32-19 to ensure the final period was no more than a matter of keeping the French at bay.

GB made 22/25 from the charity strip while 35 of their 56 rebounds were made under their own basket.

In the group's other game USA beat Serbia 84-50, which meant the American side topped the group 3-0 and Britain finished just behind, thanks to their outstanding opening win against hosts Serbia.

Tom Maher's side now face the Czech Republic and Poland in the final eight. The Czech Republic won group D with two emphatic victories over Turkey and China, hitting the 100 mark both times, before sealing the top spot with an 84-71 win over Poland.

GB will play the Czech Republic on Sunday (July 5) at 8pm and then Poland on Tuesday (July 7) at 12.30pm.