GB DOMINATE MACEDONIA TO STAY PERFECT

By Mark Woods
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Updated: June 11, 2014

Peter Buckle 568 Great Britain maintained their perfect start to their qualification campaign for the 2015 EuroBasket Women finals as they routed Macedonia 78-53 in Kavardarci on Wednesday.

It was another efficient performance from the visitors, paced by a team-high 15 points from Temi Fagbenle, with their cushion peaking at 29 points in the third period.

“I think that our strong start at the beginning of the game, which we were then able to replicate at the beginning of the second quarter was key for us,” said head coach Peter Buckle.

“What was particularly pleasing is that everybody contributed. We were also able to rotate fully and give everyone some minutes which is important with these games coming thick and fast.”

After beating Belgium in their opening qualifier in Worcester last Sunday, an early 10-3 run put GB in control in the first of three successive ties away from home.

The visitors, with Lauren Thomas-Johnson providing the offensive spark and Azania Stewart a defensive colossus, then blow the Macedonians apart.

14 consecutive points were reeled off to assert their dominance en route to grabbing a 39-19 half-time lead.

And an 11-1 spurt pushed Buckle’s side out of reach, allowing the Australian to rest his starters with one eye on their forthcoming trip to take Lithuania on Sunday in Kedainiai.

Krisi Givens had a game-best 21 points for the winless Macedonians.

Elsewhere in Group B, Lithuania also kept up their 100% start with a 77-67 victory in Belgium.