GB women gain promotion with win

GB's women emulated the success of the men's team by qualifying for Division A of the European Championships with a 60-58 win over Holland in Almere.

The aggregate win ensures that GB will compete in 2009 European Championship qualifying, boosting their hopes of taking a spot at the 2012 Olympics.

Andrea Congreaves, playing in probably her last international, scored 14 points, including three three-pointers.

Megan Moody added 14 points and 10 rebounds and Rosalee Mason 10 points.

The Dutch started with a 20-8 run to start the game but GB's resolve held firm and after taking the lead late in the third quarter, they never trailed.

The aggregate was a convincing 128-90 victory for GB after they trounced the Dutch 68-32 in Manchester last weekend.

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" GB started nervously, taking a full three minutes to score, and they trailed 20-10 at the end of the first quarter after the Dutch hit a 9-0 run.

Mark Clark's team went into the locker room at half-time 26-20 down after edging a tight second quarter by four points.

Congreaves' third three-pointer of the night gave GB the lead 42-41 with 1:10 remaining in the third quarter.

In Manchester, Kristy Lavin had scored 16 points and Moody added 17 in Manchester as GB held the Dutch to just 14 second-half points in an easy win.

World governing body Fiba wants British teams top prove their competitiveness at the top European level before allocating them a host spot at the 2012 Olympics.