Burliga's Double-Double Powers Poland Past Croatia
Maria Burliga delivered a commanding double-double performance, tallying 17 points and 13 rebounds, to spearhead Poland's hard-fought 76-66 victory over Croatia at the FIBA U20 Women's EuroBasket.
In a contest that saw momentum swing, Croatia held a narrow 40-42 lead at halftime. However, Poland mounted a significant comeback.
Poland surged ahead by six points, entering the fourth quarter with a 62-56 advantage, and never looked back. Their defensive effort was crucial, holding Croatia to a mere 28% shooting from the field (23/83) and outrebounding them 51-48. While Croatia's bench outscored Poland's 11-9, Poland's resilience shone through, despite committing 16 turnovers. Julia Wysocka contributed 21 points for Poland, while Petra Bozan put up a valiant 22 points and 17 rebounds for Croatia. This win serves as a significant statement for Poland within the tournament.