Ukraine On The Verge After Close Win

Ukraine have taken a huge step towads EuroBasket Women after edging out Bulgaria 67-61 in a tense game in Kiev in the additional qualifying round.

Bulgaria kept it close right to the end, but the hosts eventually pulled it out with a 6-0 run to close the game in the final minute.

Olexandra Gorbunova was the star of the show with 32 points and 10 rebounds for the hosts.

The win moves Ukraine to 3-0 in the standings, and although Germany can still catch them mathematically, Ukraine's strong record against the Germans will have Volodymyr Bryukhovetskiy confident of advancing.

In a close game, Ukraine could not find a way to shake off the Bulgarians down the stretch.

Olena Zherzherunova's three-pointer put Ukraine on top 61-56 with 3:24 to go, but Noel Monik Kuin responded with a three ball of her own to cut the gap back to two.

After a turnover from each team, Lyubov Alyoshkina missed a jump shot for Ukraine, and the visitors took it down the other end where Zornitza Kostova tied it, 61-61, with a jumper after Kuin rebounded Daniela Peteva's miss.

Ukraine called a time-out but Alyoshkina missed the shot coach Bryukhovetskiy drew up.

But after Bulgaria's Nataliya Topalova-Shopova was called for an offensive foul, Iryna Biryuk put Ukraine back in front with a lay-up 53 seconds from time.

Peteva missed a jumper for Bulgaria and Ukraine's lead was four as Gorbunova made another lay-up.

Zherzherunova then iced the win with a pair of free throws.

Ol'ga Duborvina had 16 points for Ukraine and Zherzherovina finished with 12.

Kuin led Bulgaria with 16 points while Vera Perostiyska had 10.

Quotes Ukraine vs. Bulgaria

Nikolai Boroukov, Bulgaria Coach: 

"After the loss in Bulgaria we didn't believe in ourselves and that explains our slow start. We had a great chance, but during the decisive moments the players that I expected to take the initiative didn't do so and we made several mistakes on defense, allowing Gorbunova to score her points. But I am pleased with how we played."

Inna Kochubei, Ukraine Guard:

"I am extremely happy we won tonight. Unfortunately I didn't help when I checked in. I wanted to play so much, I was overexcited and this stopped me. I couldn't do anything. It's hard to return after an injury, I've never done that before. We are almost there, and I hope that in Germany we get the necessary result. I promise that in our last game I'll do much better."

Volodymyr Bryukhovetskiy, Ukraine Coach:

"This was a very tough game for us, especially mentally. The refs allowed it to be very physical and some of our players were not ready for it. We had a good start, but when the leaders got tired, the subs did not help. They'd go in, make a couple of mistakes, and this allowed the opponents to catch up. We played with just five players basically. I told my players before the start that this additional qualification round that we have a long game of four quarters ahead of us. Three down, one to go."