Team GB’s women’s basketball team were beaten by a last-gasp three-point shot from France to go down 80-77 in overtime in a thrilling match at the Basketball Arena.
Team GB forced France into overtime with a 67-67 score at the end of the fourth quarter and came agonisingly close to victory.
Tom Maher’s team were one point down with 10 seconds on the clock and Julie Page (pictured, above right), 29, from Stockport, lined up for free throw shots after a dramatic foul.
Page sank her first effort to tie the game but missed her second which gave France possession as they climbed highest to gather the rebound and head down the other end of the court in search of a last-gasp winner.
With 0.02 seconds left on the clock Celine Dumerc sank a three pointer with Team GB immediately responding with their own score from down town but it was ruled out as it failed to the beat the buzzer.
Julie Page said: “We played France a couple of weeks ago and won so we were looking for a repeat performance. They have a lot of big names but we weren’t thinking about that. Our motto is to fight and to give 120 per cent and I feel like we did that.
“Basketball-wise we are still a young team, we have been working hard and I feel that if we continue to do so in future years we will become a very competitive team.
“We are already competing with the world’s best teams so we are doing great. I’m so proud of the girls, I couldn’t ask for more.”
Sportsister
The Women’s Sports Magazine
