The Standard Life GB Women have finished as runners-up in the Standard Life Game On 2012 tournament, in Sheffield.
Australia secured the tournament on Saturday, following three victories with GB coming second, France finishing third and Angola fourth.
GB beat world number eight ranked side France 74 – 67 in their final game of the competition. The team were pleased to have finished the tournament with their best performance of the weekend, after losing 87-63 to Australia on Saturday.
Following the conclusion of the tournament on Sunday evening, head coach Tom Maher commented: “Our goal was to make today our best game. After playing two games in two days, if this isn’t our best game then after the lessons that Angola and Australia taught us, we haven’t moved forward. We had to play our best game and we did it.”
GB grabbed the lead early on 14-11, after a couple of key baskets from Kim Butler. In the last 90 seconds of the first third however, France responded with a 7-0 run, to take an 18-14 lead, which they then extended to 24-14 in second.
By the break, GB had pulled it back as the teams were tied 30-30, after a 16-6 run sparked by Natalie Stafford.
The lead changed again several times in the third quarter and Stef Collins hit a pair of free-throws, giving GB a 39-38 lead. France responded with a 7-0 run, but Jenaya Wade-Fray fought back, nailing a three-pointer from mid-court.
GB entered the fourth quarter down 48-46 but Natalie Stafford gave a memorable performance as she scored 11 of her total 18 points in the final ten minutes.
Jo Leedham (pictured above, centre) was top scorer, scoring 18 points and after the game, was awarded the Standard Life GB women’s MVP.
GB’s next game is on Wednesday evening, when they face number one ranked side Team USA at the MEN Arena in Manchester, tip-off 7pm.
Sophia Smith, Sportsister
The Women’s Sports Magazine
Image credit: Standard Life Press
