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Mason guides GB to Bosnia victory

By Rob Dugdale
BBC Sport in Sheffield

Rose Mason
Mason impressed in GB's win

Rose Mason's 17 points helped Great Britain women to a 91-58 win over Bosnia to boost their hopes of avoiding relegation to the European B Division.

GB powered to a 50-25 half-time lead in Sheffield and finished strongly.

Kristy Lavin added 15 points and Kim Butler 14 as six of Mark Clark's players hit double figures.

Following Saturday's 63-61 victory in Finland the win also improves GB's hopes of making the Olympic Games in three years' time.

They need to finish in the top two of the four-team group to stay in Division A, which is vital if they are to convince world governing body Fiba they deserve a hosts' spot at London 2012.

Against Bosnia, guard Mason was again a vital force for GB at both ends of the floor, taking eight rebounds as well as her 17-point haul.

Clark had rested 6ft 7in centre Sarah McKay because of an inflamed knee, though her absence was hardly noticed as GB dominated once they got into their stride.

A three from Lavin sparked a 13-3 run as GB established a 26-14 lead after 10 minutes.

Video diary - meet the GB women's basketball team

In the second quarter, Harriett Yea, playing her first minutes of the tournament, hit three three-pointers in an 18-5 run that helped GB to that impressive half-time lead.

Yea hit another three in the fourth quarter and finished with 13 points.

"She was hitting them all in practice and we were like, 'put this girl in, she's hot,'" said Butler.

"They were clogging up the key and we found her with that skip pass and that's the good thing about our team - the inside-outside game that we play."

Bosnia, who had looked tired before the interval, had the better of the third quarter as Clark brought some of the other players that had not played in Finland into the action.

Video diary - GB women's basketball training camp

Even so, Bosnia had only chipped four points off GB's lead by the end of the third quarter and when the home team hit a 9-0 run to start the fourth quarter, any hopes the visitors had of a surprise win were extinguished.

"I think we're just staying disciplined on the defensive end and staying focused," added Butler. "I think it's the little things that have made the difference."

Meagan Hoffman and Lisa Hutchinson each scored 11 points for GB, whose next game is against potentially the toughest team in the group, Romania, in Nottingham on Saturday.

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see also
Basketball team looks to 2012
07 Jan 09 |  England
GB women secure opening victory
04 Jan 09 |  Basketball
GB women up for relegation fight
17 Dec 08 |  Basketball
Basketball results
12 Oct 00 |  Basketball


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