Serbia & Montenegro roared into the semi-finals of the Termosteps U16 European Championship Women with a 79-72 victory in their winner-takes-all quarter-final Group E clash with France.

With both sides level on three points going into what was their final group game, there could hardly have been a greater contrast between victory and defeat.

It was a real see-saw affair, with Serbia & Montenegro flying out of the blocks to establish a 20-6 first-quarter advantage.

France stormed back to lead 29-23 less than six minutes into the second quarter but were themselves pegged back and went into half-time level at 31-31.

The third quarter was nip and tuck until the final three minutes when Serbia & Montenegro scored 10 unanswered points to lead 58-47.

They extended that to 64-50 and held off a late France surge to seal victory.

Jovna Popovic (18 points, seven rebounds, six assists) and Tina Jovanovic (17 points, 11 rebounds) were Serbia & Montenegro's star performers.

But they were overshadowed by France's brilliant forward Diandra Tchatchouang, who bagged 27 of France's points.

Serbia & Montenegro join group winners Spain in the final four.