Leedham leads GB women to third straight EuroBasket qualifying win

A STUNNING individual performance from Jo Leedham saw Great Britain down Slovak Republic in their own back yard and take a huge step closer to next year's EuroBasket in Poland.

SHINING LIGHT: Jo Leedham inspires Great Britain to a third straight victory in their qualification campaign

Leedham led the way with 26 points as Great Britain racked up a 70-63 victory and exacted revenge for Slovak Republic's victory earlier in the competition at the NIA in Birmingham.

It is also a third consecutive victory for Tom Maher's side, after GB lost their opening clash, and sees them head into their final two qualifying matches atop of their group.

With matches at home to Germany and away to Ukraine remaining and the top two from each group advancing to next year's finals it appears Maher, who revolutionised women's basketball in China ahead of the Beijing Olympics, is working his magic again.

"We started the game with a shoot-out, and Slovakia won that comfortably, going in ahead by ten at quarter-time," said Maher.

"For them to score 26 in the first quarter, and only 25 in the second half is a telling stat.

"Jo Leedham was sensational but it really was a team effort. We're pretty sure this is Britain's first win over Slovakia, so we are all pretty proud."

Leedham was in fine form all night and hit six of her nine three point attempts and added four rebounds.

Natalie Stafford added ten points, Kim Butler had five rebounds to go with her nine points and Julie Page had seven boards and as many points.

Great Britain were outplayed by the hosts in the first half and were nine points down just five minutes before the interval, only for Leedham to hit another three to inspire a comeback and reduce the deficit to one at the midway point.

A Page jump shot, followed by Leedham's fifth three pointer of the night, gave GB a four point lead after three second half minutes and they were still two up at the midway stage of the third quarter.

And her sixth handed Great Britain a 66-63 lead with three minutes remaining on the clock before a Butler lay-up and two Steph Collins free-throws completed the win.