24 August 2018
GB's women beaten but secure history-making wheelchair basketball silver
GB were beaten but unbowed in the final of the Women’s Wheelchair Basketball World Championships after a historic podium finish.
Netherlands were once again the nemesis of Helen Freeman’s outfit, prevailing 56-40 in the showpiece final in Hamburg.
Gold was a step too far for the first-time finalists despite a rousing second-half comeback from 11 points down at half-time.
Robyn Love bossed matters in the third period, her three field goals reducing the deficit to six, and the 3.5 category player ended with 12 points.
Amy Conroy has been a key member of the side in the run to the final and her tenacious defense helped corral seven rebounds, while Freeman was chief creator with eight assists.
Mariska Beijer was the architect of the victory for the Dutch, putting up a double-double with 21 points and 13 rebounds.
On Friday, GB claimed the sensational scalp of Paralympic silver medallists and host nation Germany while the USA were beaten in the quarters.
They have shown huge improvement in recent years having reached the Paralympic Games semi-finals in Rio in 2016.
Attention now turns to the men’s world championship final meeting with USA tomorrow, which gets underway at 14:30.