Monaco 68

Malta 61

(17-17)(15-14)(18-11)(18-19)

In the last match of the tournament, Malta’s girls were beaten by Monaco, who managed to take the silver, and second place, leaving the locals with the third position, and the bronze medal.

Monaco, who had the top scorer of these games, Marine Peglion, given extra attention, had other players who could drift into unattended spaces, to reap dividends, with their points.

The Maltese recovered from a difficult start, and their treys kept them in the hunt, but their high velocity game resulted in lost possessions, due to errant passes, and Monaco could always recover, after being hit by triples.

Malta began with a stutter, as Monaco raced into an 11-2 advantage, after starting with a Michelotti trey. Justine Busuttil went on court, and an initial triple pulled the locals back. Then a good 10-0 run had Busuttil sinking two more treys, as Malta went in front, only to be overhauled by Monaco, at the end of the session.

In the second quarter the Maltese girls went ahead again, and more treys by Steffi De Martino and Busuttil, had Malta 25-21 in front. Monaco recovered, despite more triples, by De Martino, but Peglion was putting in her hoops, and at the interval it was Monaco on a slim 32-31 advantage.

After the break Malta were caught cold, as Hocquard made a brace of hoops. The locals crawled back, although in arrears. Busuttil made two more triples, but Monaco had N'Doram active in the paint.

The session ended with a Michelotti trey, as Monaco held a 50-42 lead.

In the final period Malta reduced their deficit, but Monaco were always dangerous in their pressing. De Martino sank another trey, but the visitors made their best run, at 10-2, with Peglion the finisher.

There was not much time left, as Malta mad their last efforts, with a 10-3 run, and treys by Kelly Busuttil and De Martino once more, but Monaco had enough of a lead to hold on till the end of the match.

Monaco: 1 L. Lanzerini, A. Marin Cruz, 8 L. Michelotti, 25 M. Peglion, 9 D. N'Doram, 1 M. Marin Cruz, C. Sciandra, A. Frasnetti, 2 A. Genovese, L. Vevillez, 14 V. Meganck, 8 MC Hocquard

Malta: E. Micallef, L. Pace, 2 R. Naudi, 4 K. Busuttil, 20 S. De Martino, 18 J. Busuttil, E. Cassar, 13 K. Tonna, A. Mifsud, 4 J. Xuereb, K. Martinelli

Referees: Shane Bassett (GIB), Pascale Weiwers (LUX), Dimitriou Stasiev (MOL)

At the end of the Monaco-Malta match, the presentations were made, as Luxembourg were given the winners trophy by the general secretary of FIBA Europe, Nar Zanolin. The award to Monaco, for their second place, was given by the President of the Small Countries Committee, John Goncalves, and Malta's third place award was given by the Chairman, Malta Sports Council, Bernard Vassallo.

Other result

Luxembourg 110, Gibraltar 41