Eurosport - Thu, 02 Jul 23:34:00 2009
Great Britain basketball captain Chantelle Handy said Olympic hopefuls Great Britain can still qualify for the next stage of the World University Games despite losing 93-59 to the USA.
Handy helped Great Britain to a shock 76-67 victory over Serbia in their opening group match, but after a defeat to hot favourites USA, she is only too aware nothing but a win will do in their final group game against France.
"We watched France play USA yesterday and we have a good shot, especially if we play like we played today," said Handy. "We just have to keep winning possession and improving.
"I think we need to come out and be ready, not feel it out in the first few minutes, you can't do that at this level."
Johannah Leedham, fresh from notching 27 points against Serbia, led the way for GB again, bagging 17 points, as Handy added ten and Jennifer Leedham eight.
France were on the wrong end of a hiding against the USA, going down 115-30, and should the French lose out to Serbia in their other remaining fixture, the group will be thrown wide open.
And Handy is convinced there are plenty of positives Great Britain can take into their clash with France, despite their 34-point defeat to USA.
"We played well against the USA," added Handy. "We came out of the second half a lot better than the first and did better than expected.
"We just went in knowing we had to win possession and had to improve from the last game.
"It didn't matter who they were, we had to play and we definitely didn't play scared. In the third quarter we came out strong. The best thing is that we showed that we can compete with this level of play.
"We had a better second half in yesterday's game as well. At the moment we seem to take a while getting into the groove of things so we need to learn to develop and start better."
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