EUROBASKET WOMEN QUALIFIERS

Guard Giorgia Sottana turned in another splendid perfomance to help Italy clinch a valuable away victory in Greece

Italy won for the second time in a row in Group B of the EuroBasket Women Qualification Round with a 64-53 victory at Greece on Saturday.

The Azzurre, who endured an opening day setback at Latvia, seem to have hit their stride.

They bounced back with a midweek triumph over Luxembourg and then turned in an impressive display on the road against the Greeks to improve to 2-1.

Point guard Giulia Gatti made a driving go-ahead lay-up with 7:43 to play in Maroussi for the Italians and Raffaella Masciadri then sank two free-throws to make it 48-45.

Twice the Greeks pulled to within one, after baskets by Dimitra Kalentzou and Olga Chatzinikolaou, but Italy held firm.

Guard Giorgia Sottana sank two free-throws and Lavinia Santucci followed with a three-point play for a 55-49 Italy lead.

Pelagia Papamichail gave Greece hope with a hook shot but Sottana next hit a three-pointer for Italy to push the advantage to 58-51.

Greece got no closer than five points the rest of the way.

Sottana's 16 points led the way for Italy, while Papamichail had 15 for Greece as they fell to 1-2.