Latvia Outlasts Hungary in U20 EuroBasket Clash
Latvia ultimately prevailed over Hungary 78-64 at the FIBA U20 Women's EuroBasket, leveraging a significant free-throw advantage and superior playmaking.
Holding a 13-point lead at halftime (34-47), Latvia saw their advantage trimmed to six entering the final period (52-58), but a decisive fourth quarter surge sealed the win.
Despite shooting just 34% from the field (18/53), Latvia converted a remarkable 38 of 44 free throws (86%) and received a significant boost from their bench, which scored 29 points, notably from Estere Petrus (13 pts, 6 ast) and Zane Straudovska (9 pts, 7 reb).
Hungary, hampered by 20 turnovers and a mere 16% success rate from three-point range (3/19), saw Leila Drahos lead all scorers with 18 points, while Eliza Farbas added 8 points, 5 rebounds, and 4 steals.
This victory serves as a strong statement for Latvia in the tournament, showcasing their resilience and ability to grind out a win through disciplined free-throw shooting and balanced scoring.