Seda Erdogan poured in a game-high 30 points to guide Turkey to an 87-80 triumph over the Czech Republic in the opening Group C clash for the two sides.

Turkey trailed 48-42 at half-time but managed to cut down the deficit 59-56 going into the last quarter.

Erdogan's layup with four minutes remaining gave the Turks the lead for good at 74-73.

Tereza Peckova led the Czechs in scoring with 25 points and houled down 15 rebounds.

Italy 71, Latvia 65

Italy held off a resilient Latvia and edged a 71-65 victory on Friday at the U20 European Championship or Women in Sofia.

Giorgia Sottana had a game-high 26 points for the talians - 11 in the first half as her team trailed 36-33 t the break.

Latvia were just one of 12 (8.3%) from two-point ange after 20 minutes and their poor shooting ontinued as they finished nine of 33 (27.2%) from nside the arc.