Italy Open Group B Play With Win

Italy overcame a slow and sloppy start to win their opener 59-56 at the U18 European Championship for Women.

Nausicaa Fassina made the winning shot for the Azzuris, hitting a three-pointer from the top of the key with 1:05 left in the game.

Italy's point guard Erica Striulli led the way with 15 points, none perhaps more important than her bank shot with 2:40 left to play that tied the game at 54 all.

Poland's Magda Kacsmarska got her team back in front 56-54 with a lay up off an inbound play following a time out, but Giulia Rulli then made a tough turnaround shot at the other end.

Fassina hit her long bomb and Italy forced their opponents into a shotclock violation, before running out the clock to secure the result.

Poland, who finished fourth in this tournament last year, were the better team in the early stages, jumping out to an 18-13 lead at the end of the first quarter thanks to their stifling defense that resulted in fastbreak opportunities.

Italy though overcame its early game jitters to take a 27-26 lead on a lay up by Striulli late in the second quarter and stayed had a 31-28 advantage at the break.

Rota Marco's girls extended that advantage to 34-28 on Martina Bastagno's three point play early in the second half.

Italy's shooting touch though soon disappeared as they went scoreless for more than five minutes and Poland used a 10-0 run to jump back in front 49-41 heading into the final period behind the fine play of top scorers Olivia Tomialowicz and Paulina Antczak.

Federica Nannucci got Italy back on track with a three-pointer in the first minute of the final period and they were back in front 52-51 when they took a page out of Poland's book, running a perfect fastbreak that ended with Fassina converting a three-point play.

Tomialowicz and Antczak both had 16 points for Poland who also got eight points and 18 rebounds from Klaudia Sosnowska.