Great Britain's women's wheelchair basketball team carved out a battling 36-30 win over the Netherlands in their opening Paralympic match in Athens. Britain held a narrow 10-8 lead after the first quarter, thanks to some sharp shooting from Caroline McClean.
The Netherlands kept Team GB within sight but some solid defence work saw Britain hold on to the vital win.
There was no such luck for the British men, who slid to their second straight defeat, losing 80-59 to Australia.
Team GB's women never relinquished their lead despite being pushed hard by the Netherlands.
"The players were fantastic," said coach Dan McCaffrey. "To me it never felt like the game was in any doubt."
"Our defence was excellent, now we have to improve our offense."
The British women's team almost did not make it to Athens despite being ranked eighth in the world.
Without Lottery funding, the players have had to raise their own finances and captain Ann Wild admitted that made the opening win a little bit sweeter.
"Just being here was an achievement in itself," said Wild.
"But to play to the best of our ability and win means we have done what we came here to do."
MMIX
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