Greece Fight Back To Top Bulgaria

Bulgaria went in front by 12 points in the third quarter but weren't able to press home the advantage and lost 70-59 at Greece on Saturday in a qualifying clash for next year's EuroBasket Women.

Trailing 45-37, Styliani Kaltsidou drilled a three-pointer at the start of an 8-0 run for Greece at the end of the third quarter to tie the contest at 45-45.

Greece kept the pressure on and reeled off the first nine points of the final quarter for a 54-45 advantage and they stayed in front the rest of the way.

Kostas Missas, the Greece coach, said: "It was very important for us that we got back in the game after trailing as many as 12 points.

"We used our patience and we got the win."

Greece shot the ball extremely well from three-point range, making 10 of 22.

Bulgaria coach Nikolay Borukov knew this was one of Greece's weapons.

"We were not able to stop their three-point shots," he said, "although we have talked about it in our preparation, and have worked on this.

"Obviously, we didn't work enough to stop the Greeks from taking those shots."

Evanthia Maltsi, who made four three-balls, had 18 points to lead Greece while Kaltsidou finished with 10 points and eight rebounds.

Bulgaria got a game-high 21 points and 13 boards from Gergana Branzova-Erdeney.

Quotes Greece vs. Bulgaria

Kostas Missas, Greece coach:

"Defense is our main weapon, but the balance is coming from being effective in offense too. We had no excuse of losing those rebounds in the first half. Bulgaria got us trapped in its game. In the second half we played much better. We used both offence and defense, we pressed our opponents and we got a very important win. But the joy should last only one night because nothing is done yet. We are flying to Belgium on Monday and we want to try for another positive game and of course a positive result if it's possible. It was very important for us that we got back in the game after trailing as many as 12 points. We used our patience and we got the win."

Anastasia Kostaki, Greece player:

"We made a good start, as we are counting two wins, in two games. Our goal is to build a team that will be effective next year in Eurobasket 2009. We want to be effective in both, defense and offense and that is what we tried to do today against Bulgaria. We would like also to thank the fans that were here next to us today and we hope to see them in the next game too."

Nikolay Borukov, Bulgaria coach:

"We lost the game, although my players tried really hard. We seemed tired in the fourth period. The game changed through the three-point shooting of the Greek team and because in the same time we lost the battles under the basket. We were not able to stop their three-point shots, although we have talked about it in our preparation, and have worked on this. Obviously we didn't work enough to "stop" the Greeks of taking those shots."

Diana Naydenova - Goryanova, Bulgaria player:

"We wanted so much to get this win. We tried very hard to get these two points. Unfortunately for us we didn't manage to get it in spite our effort. Greece deserved to win. They had an excellent game in the fourth period."