Scots women outclassed by slick Maltese in Macedonia

Despite seeing Falkirk’s Mairi Buchan rediscover her scoring touch, Scotland’s women’s basketball team lost 80-57 to an impressive Malta side in their second game of the 
European Championship for Small Countries in Ohrid, 
Macedonia, last night.

“They shot 60 per cent and we couldn’t cope with that,” said Scotland coach Ian Gordon. “They kept their starting five on till well into the third quarter.”

Scotland, trailing 38-23 at half-time, and 65-32 after the third quarter, actually won the fourth 25-15. Old Dominion 
student Buchan, who played for 31 minutes despite fitness doubts, added six rebounds and two assists.

Another US college student Deanne Hayward (Atlantic) had 12 points, Gillian Baird (Loughborough) 11 and six rebounds, Siobhan Moore 
(Glasgow Rocks) six points and Emma Findlay (Edinburgh Kool Kats) three points and two assists.

After beating Azerbaijan 
73-54 in their opening game, Gordon’s team had to beat Moldova today to make the semi-finals.