In the first game of the second day at the Nations Cup Cologne, it was Australia Gliders who game out the brighter against the German women, shooting to an 8-0 lead. A shell-shocked Germany struggled to cope with the speed of the Australian’s, who capitalised to win the quarter 21-8.
Germany regrouped and steadied themselves in the second quarter, cutting the deficit to just seven points at half-time.
The comeback continued for Germany and it was Australia who were left rueing the missed shots, as the home team took the lead for the first time of the game in the third, 40 – 38.
In a tense fourth quarter the teams went basket for basket, and in the final seconds of the game it was Australian Clare Nott, who made the final basket for Australia to make it 52-50, and despite having the final offence and the chance from the free throw line, Germany’s Mareike Miller, made one of two, to finish the game one point down. 52 – 51
Miller, was Germany’s main threat with a double-double of 27 points and 11 rebounds, whilst the Gliders Cobi Crispin (13pts), Sarah Vinci (10pts) and Amber Merritt (12pts) shared the scoring, all hitting double figures.