Cissé's Masterclass Powers France Past Serbia
Sarah Cissé delivered a dominant performance, scoring 33 points and pulling down 10 rebounds to propel France to an 81-65 victory over Serbia at the FIBA U20 Women's EuroBasket.
France established a commanding 47-32 lead by halftime, but Serbia fought back, narrowing the deficit to nine points (65-56) entering the final quarter. However, a decisive second quarter, which France won 31-18, built the crucial advantage. France's rebounding superiority, outrebounding Serbia 42-22, proved vital, even as Serbia's 11 steals attempted to keep them in contention.
Cissé, who recorded a double-double, was the offensive catalyst for France, with Stella Colas adding 13 points and 8 rebounds. Reserve Lana Bentoumi chipped in with 10 points and 9 rebounds. For Serbia, Lana Maric led the scoring with 15 points, while Jana Vesic dished out 6 assists. France also saw significant contributions from their bench, outscoring Serbia's reserves 26-25.
This win serves as a significant statement for France in the tournament, showcasing their potential with a commanding display.