Women's basketball team of BiH after a drama defeated Switzerland and qualified for the EC

(Patria) - What a drama and what a happy ending! The women's basketball team of BiH defeated Switzerland today in the fifth round of qualifications and thus secured a place at the European Championship! For the first time after a long, very long break of 22 years.

Our players open their key match of the year in Russian Orenburg with a layup by Courtney Hurt and the first points by the naturalized American in her debut for BiH.

However, it turned out to be the only lead for our team in the first quarter. The Swiss made a run to go up 2:5 and mostly maintained a slight lead. The Dragons only managed to equalize twice (5:5, 9:9), and the first 10 minutes of the match ended with a minimal lead for the Swiss team, 13:14.

Hurt opens the second quarter with another basket, and with her points, BiH has the lead again (15:14). Then followed a score seesaw, with teams exchanging leads.

Our players took a more significant lead with Matea Tavić's points to make it 23:20 in the 14th minute, but they again allowed the Swiss to go on a mini-run, taking the lead 24:23. Another seesaw followed, until the Swiss team concluded the first half with a basket by Flora Stoianov for a lead of 29:32.

After the break, Switzerland started the second half better. With points from the unstoppable Evita Hermijard, Demien Leyrolle's protégées led 31:38, and then Emma Chardon increased the lead to 34:42 in the 24th minute. However, we got back into the game with a brilliant 10-0 run, capped by Courtney Hurt's basket for the Dragons' lead of 44:42.

With points from Melisa Brčaninović, who became more active in the second half, we increased the lead to 48:44, but by the end of the third quarter, the Swiss managed to equalize (48:48).

A nervous start to the last quarter was evident for both teams, but Goran Lojo's protégées were slightly more accurate and, on the wings of the fantastic Hurt, led 58:52 with six minutes left. However, with a series of mistakes and poorly organized attacks, the Dragons allowed their rivals to come back to 59:58.

Fortunately, we quickly regained a significant lead. Courtney Hurt hit two difficult shots in a row to make it 65:58 with a minute and a half left. Fora and Toumi then reduced the deficit to 65:62, but that was all from Switzerland.

In their second-to-last possession, the Swiss missed as many as three shots (after two offensive rebounds), and then fouled Melisa Brčaninović. The daughter of the legendary Mara Lakić then hit two free throws for the final score of 67:62 and the victory! The dream has come true! We are back at the EC!

For the BiH team, the most effective players were Courtney Hurt (30 points, 13 rebounds) and Melisa Brčaninović (14 points, 10 rebounds); for Switzerland, Evita Herminjard (23 points) and Emma Chardon (17).

BiH – Switzerland 67:62 (13:14, 16:18, 19:16, 19:14)