GB women’s wheelchair basketballers secure semi-final showdown

Great Britain’s women are through to their first ever Wheelchair Basketball World Championship semi-final after convincingly beating two-time winners USA 70-47.

Helen Freeman led from the front, scoring an impressive 23 points to help GB to their highest ever finish at the tournament.

After the men reigned victorious in yesterday’s quarter-final match against Spain, GB are the only nation to have two teams in the semi-finals currently in the competition.

Losing only once in the pool matches to Netherlands, GB entered their clash against USA with confidence on their side.

Leading from the front, GB got off to a flier finishing the first period with a dominant 15-10 lead against the Olympic champions.

USA could do little to prevent GB going through the gears as Amy Conroy and Joy Haizelden ramped up the pressure to go in with an 11-point lead at the halfway stage at 34-23.

USA, who won gold at the event in 1990 and 2010, could do little to prevent Freeman asserting her influence and scoring freely as the tie began to slip out of their hands.

GB women, whose previous best finish was fifth four years ago, put on the afterburners to finish 23-points ahead and book their place in the last four where they will face either Netherlands or France.

Sportsbeat 2018