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22 September 2006
Game Report - France vs Lithuania 79-73, Classification game 5-6
São Paulo/ Brazil - France held off a determined fight-back from Lithuania to clinch fifth place at the FIBA World Championship for Women with a 79-73 win.
The French looked to be cruising at 77-60 with 2:47 to go, but Sandra Valuzyte’s lay-up then sparked a 13-0 run for Lithuania that brought them back into contention.
They got within seven, at 77-70, with 50 seconds left.
Valuzyte then missed a three-pointer with 16 seconds on the clock, but Ausra Bimbaite’s trey nine seconds from time moved them to within four points, 77-73.
However, Audrey Sauret-Gillespie sank two late free throws to secure the win for France.
The French had not looked like allowing it to get so close. They were in control for much of the game, finishing 23-16 up at the end of the first quarter and carrying that same seven point advantage, 41-34, into the locker rooms.
Lithuania were unable to deal with Emile Gomis, and frequently fouled the Villeneuve D’Ascq forward. She subsequently punished them from the free throw line, making 11 of 13 en route to a team-high 22 points.
In all, France made 26 of their 31 free throws, helping them make up for poor shooting from the arc. Gomis made France’s only three-pointer in eight attempts.
Sandrine Gruda (12), Sandra Le Drean (12) and Sauret-Gillespie (10) also got into double figures for France, with Gruda adding six rebounds.
Valuzyte and Bimbaite finished with 19 points each for Lithuania.
Boxscore: 79-73
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