The obvious difference in class and the drop in energy of the Montenegrin basketball players after four difficult matches in the run-up to the quarter-finals - that was enough for the "reds" to suffer a heavy defeat in the fight for a place in the semi-finals of the Eurobasket.
Elected Jelena Škerović was eliminated by France (89:46) in a match in which our selection could not match either physically or basketball at any moment.
The "Reds" have done a lot in this competition by placing among the top eight, but they have something to fight for in the next match as well.
Next is the duel with Serbia on Saturday in the play-off for placement from 5th to 8th place and the winner of that match will ensure placement in the qualification for the Olympic Games in Paris.
Both our and Serbian selections had almost the same "preparation" for that mutual clash, because the team of Marina Maljković - the current champion of Europe - suffered a debacle against Belgium and lost 93:53.
FRANCE - MONTENEGRO 89:46 (23:9, 21:17, 21:11, 24:9)
Ljubljana - Hall "Stožice". Spectators: 300. Judges: Luis Castillo (Spain), Lorenzo Baldini (Italy), Ivor Matejek (Czech Republic).
France: Foposi, Futu 15, Sarteru 6, Gruda 18 (2-2), Michel 7 (4-4), Vukosavljević 5 (1-1), Rupert, Salon 5, Badian 20 (3-2), Toure 3, Lakon 8, Berni 2.
Montenegro: Mek 4, Kovačević 9 (3-3), Živaljević, Pašić, Radonjić, Živković 6 (2-2), Mujović 6 (7-4), Bigović 6, Vučetić 7 (2-2), Šćepanović 2, Lekovic 6 (6-4), Jovanovic.
Šćepanović enrolled, now it is 83:42.
Only three points from Montenegro in the last quarter, all three from the free throw line - 83:40.
The advantage of the French women is growing, now they lead 78:38.
The last quarter began with a three-pointer by Lakon for 68:37.
The head coach of Montenegro, Jelena Škerović, gave a chance to all players, now she is thinking about the next match, against Serbia.
After three quarters, France has a 28-point advantage - 65:37.
The French women are practically already in the semi-finals, and our team has one more chance to secure qualification for the Olympic Games in Paris - on Saturday, they must defeat Serbia.
Montenegro can no longer match, now it is threatened with a heavy defeat - France leads 63:36.
The biggest advantage of France at the end of the third period is 59:36.
The French women maintain a safe advantage - 52:32 is halfway through the third quarter.
In our team, Milica Jovanović has not been on the field since the first quarter, as she injured a muscle.
Kovačević scored with a foul, then used a free throw - 48:30.
France has a 21-point advantage (48:27), nothing has changed on the field compared to the first half.
The second half began with Futu points for the biggest plus 20 - 46:26.
The Montenegrin basketball players have a big minus 18 (44:26) after 20 minutes - France dominates from the start and in the last attack of the second quarter they got the biggest advantage.
Jelena Vučetić is the most efficient in our team with seven points, on the other side, Badian and Futa scored nine each.
Montenegro scored only nine out of 27 attempts, but the problem is also in the defense because the opponent had a large number of easy points.
Badian returned a safe plus 16 to the French women with five tied points - 42:26.
Valerijen Vukosavljević was accurate in the shot for three points - 37:24, Vučetić was then safe for 37:26.
Excellent reaction from Montenegro after the time-out - our team went 7:0 to minus 10 - 34:24.
Vučetić hit a three-pointer - 32:18, and Kovačević reduced it to 32:20 in the counterattack.
A three-pointer from almost nine meters, hit Futa - increasing the advantage of France, which has plus 17 (32:15).
An excellent attack after the time-out, Bigović scored - 29:15.
She scored easily for Chartres for plus 16 - 29:13. New time-out for the Montenegrin team.
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