Lithuania's U18 Women Face Decisive Battle for Elite Division Spot

The Lithuanian U18 women's basketball team faces a decisive battle for a spot in the elite division after a significant loss in the European Championship semifinals. The team will play for the bronze medal on Sunday.

Their opponent in the third-place playoff will be the loser of the match between Israel and Austria. A victory in this game is crucial, as it not only secures a medal but also guarantees promotion to Division A of the European Championship next year.

In their semifinal match, Romania established a strong lead early, holding a 41-28 advantage by halftime. The Lithuanian offense struggled significantly in the third quarter, allowing Romania to extend their lead to 33 points (65-32) by the end of the period, making the final quarter a formality.

For Lithuania, Barbora Prišmontaitė and Vakarė Griškutė each scored 7 points, with Prišmontaitė adding 5 rebounds. Aušrinė Gaubytė and Ema Ceilutkaitė contributed 6 points each. Romania's Ioana-Vanessa Valcea was the standout player, scoring 29 points, while Daria Ilies added 16.

Earlier in the tournament, the Lithuanian team defeated Greece in a quarterfinal overtime thriller, while Romania advanced by beating Bulgaria.