Illustrative photo – Media day of the Czech women's basketball team before leaving for the European Championship in Israel and Slovenia, June 12, 2023, Prague. Renáta Březinová (right) at training.
Tel Aviv – The Czech women's basketball players lost to Belgium 41:84 at the European Championship in Tel Aviv, and after Thursday's opening win over Italy (61:58), they suffered their first loss. The Belgians succeeded for the second time and are on the way to direct progress to the quarterfinals. The Czech team will finish the basic group B on Sunday from 17:00 CET against the home team Israel and will play for participation in Monday's round of 16.
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The victory of the defending bronze medalists from the last EC in 2021 was arranged by Emma Meessemanová, who recorded a double double thanks to 24 points and 11 rebounds, and added six assists. Gabriela Andělová was the best scorer in the Czech jersey with 11 points.
Belgium, which outclassed Israel 108:59 on Thursday, started the game with a nine-point streak, and the Czech Republic scored its first points only after three minutes and 32 seconds thanks to a three-pointer by Petra Holešínská. Eliška Hamzová followed it up with a successful raid. After a basket with a converted six by Natália Stoupalová and a triple by Gabriela Andělová, they reduced the deficit to 11:13, but the Belgians immediately escaped to a nine-point lead.
In the course of the second part, the Belgians went as far as 31:18. Andělová corrected the situation with six points in a row, but the Belgians regained a thirteen-point lead by halftime. Meesseman contributed 16 points, eight rebounds and two assists. During the second quarter, 18-year-old Dominika Paurová got into the game for the first time in the tournament.At the beginning of the second half, Fenerbahce support Istanbul Meessemanová already had a double double, and the lead of the Belgians increased to 23 points after the 14:2 series. After Zeithammer's triple, the Belgians went on a 15-point streak at the turn of the third and final quarter and already led 68:33. It was interrupted by a basket from Andělová, and the situation was alleviated by a three-pointer by captain Renáta Březinová. However, the favorites dominated and celebrated the win by 43 points.
Women's Basketball Championship in Slovenia and Israel:
Group B (Tel Aviv):
Czech Republic – Belgium 41: 84 (11:20, 26:39, 33:64)
Composition and points Czech Republic: Stoupalová 7, Vyoralová 6, Holešínská 5, Hamzová 4, Březinová 3 – G. Andělová 11, Zeithammerová 5, Čechová , Paurová, Sklenářová, Šípová.
Most points Belgium: Meessemanová 24, Vanloová 13, Allemandová 12.
Fouls: 19:7. Free throws: 4/2 – 10/14. Triples: 5:8. Rebounds: 31:44.
Table:
| 1. | Belgium | 2< /td> | 2 | 0 | 192:100 | 4 |
| 2.< /td> | Czech Republic | 2 | 1 | 1 | 102:142 | 3< /td> |
| 3. | Italy | 1 | 0 | 1 | 58:61 | 1 |
| 4. | Israel | 1 | 0 | 1 | 59:108 | 1 |
