The Cyprus Women’s National Team celebrated its second victory in as many games in the FIBA Women’s EuroBasket 2029 preliminary qualifiers, defeating Norway 60-55 at the “Spyros Kyprianou” Stadium in Limassol.
Following their road victory over Bosnia and Herzegovina, our national team continued its winning streak in Group B, going two for two and remaining at the top of the standings.
ΣΧΕΤΙΚΑ ΑΡΘΡΑ
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The leading scorer for Giorgos Palalas’s team was Marissa Pagkalos with 24 points, while Eleni Pilakouta made a significant contribution with 16 points and eight rebounds, as did Stiliana Tsenaklieva with 14 points and seven rebounds.
Norway got off to a better start, taking a 5-0 lead in the opening minutes and extending it to 7-2 shortly after. Cyprus fought back, led by Pagkalos and Pilakouta, tied the score at 10-10, and then took control of the game. A three-pointer by Tsenaklieva extended the lead to eight points (18-10), with the first quarter ending at 22-16.
In the second quarter, both teams struggled to score. The national team maintained its lead, not allowing the visitors to close the gap significantly, and headed into the locker room with a seven-point lead (30-23).
Upon returning from the break, Cyprus continued to control the game. Two three-pointers by Tsenaklieva and one by Despoina Papaioannou helped our team extend its lead, with the margin reaching as high as 14 points (43-29). Norway then closed the gap, with the third quarter ending at 43-35.
The final quarter proved to be particularly back-and-forth. The visitors capitalized on Cyprus’s offensive struggles and, with a series of baskets, managed to turn the tide, taking the lead 46-47. In fact, Norway extended its lead to six points (46–52) with about four minutes remaining.
At that point, the Greek national team fought back. Pilakouta scored a basket and drew a foul to cut the deficit to 49-50, while two successful free throws by Tsenaklieva brought the score to 51-52. This was followed by a basket from Pagkalos, which gave Cyprus the lead back (53-52), and another from Papaioannou to make it 55-52.
Norway wasn’t done yet, as Stine Austgulen tied the game at 55-55 with a three-pointer, just 42 seconds before the end.
Tsenaklieva put Cyprus back in the lead with a made free throw, while Pagkalos stepped up in the final seconds. With four successful free throws, she set the final score at 60-55, sealing the national team’s second consecutive victory.
Cyprus finished the game with 42 rebounds to Norway’s 41, while making six three-pointers on 26 attempts. Despite a low free-throw percentage—14 out of 30—they managed to secure the win.
The national team’s next games are scheduled for February 2027, when the first phase of the preliminary qualifiers will conclude.
Quarter scores: 22-16, 30-23, 43-35, 60-55.
Cyprus (Giorgos Palalas): Tsenaklieva 14 (3), Pilakouta 16 (1), Pagkalos 24 (1), Papaioannou 5 (1), Stylianidi 1, Kyprianou, Ratsa, Papalla, Stefania Georgiou, Christodoulou, Oikonomidou.
Norway (Selma Delibasic): Austgulen 12 (2), Jacobsen 8 (2), Sorbye, Harloff, Uggen 14 (2), Deisz, Sanford 6, Havnes, Torresani 6, Holm, Haukenes 9.
