Lucie Blahuskova and the Czech Republic have enjoyed many a fine moment at these European Championships but none can so far match Saturday´s Herculean effort against Poland.

The Czechs, unbeaten and easily the most dominant team of the tournament with six successive wins, trailed until four minutes and 45 seconds remained in the third quarter but finally got their noses in front of the Poles and went on to claim a 74-66 triumph.

Margo Dydek is one of the most famous basketball players in the world and she showed why in Friday´s quarter-final showdown against Slovakia.

Dydek, the Poland national team centre who towers above most women, and men at more than seven feet tall (2.13 metres), turned in a virtuoso performance with 19 points, 18 rebounds, four assists and two blocks to lead her side to a 78-61 triumph over the upset-minded Slovaks.

Lucie Blahuskova wrapped up a magnificent performance in Group A with a game-high 26 points as the Czech Republic remained unbeaten in the European Championships by beating Poland.

The 21-year-old centre, who increased her average to 21.2 points a game in the tournament, made seven of 17 shots from the floor and 12 of 13 from the free throw line, and grabbed 11 rebounds as the Czechs stormed into last eight without a defeat.