Marija Leković led Montenegro to triumph over Bulgaria

Jelena Škerović's team ended the last "window" with all three wins, and the overall score in this phase of the qualifiers was 4-2. They previously celebrated against Ukraine in Riga and Azerbaijan in Bar.

Tonight's match had practically no significance in terms of results, as it was already known that Montenegro would enter the main stage in second place, while Bulgaria was first in the group, and with this victory, the "reds" took revenge on the Bulgarians for the defeat in Botevgrad (66:62).

The visitors opened the match better and took the lead 3:0, 6:2 and 12:9. However, Montenegro went on a 10:0 run in the eighth minute, gaining a double-digit lead for the first time on the wings of Nataša Mek, Zorana Radonjić and Marija Leković – 24:14.

Bulgaria managed to reduce the deficit to 27:22 at the end of the first and beginning of the second quarter, but the home team responded quickly – with new points, Mack reached plus 10 (36:26). This was followed by 38:28, after which the visitors tied the score at four points.

By the end of the first half, Mek and Leković took the initiative again and took Montenegro to the break with the largest lead in the first half (43:32).

When Milena Bigović hit a three-pointer for 50:36, it seemed that the winner was decided, but the visiting basketball team did not think so, as they went on an 11:2 run to close the gap to 52:47. Nikolina Ilić and Mek repelled the rivals' attack, and after half an hour of basketball, the scoreboard showed 58:49 in favor of our girls.

At the very start of the decisive quarter, Sanja Akšam scored for a new double-digit difference of 60:49, and soon after it was 63:53. On the wings of Borislava Hristova, Bulgaria made an 8:0 run and approached the only possession of the deficit – 63:61. A five-minute period without a basket and the opponent's series was interrupted by Bojana Kovačević, and then Leković increased it to 67:61. Karina Konstantinova hit a three-pointer for 67:64. After a timeout by Jelena Škerović, both teams did not use one attack, but Leković made a great breakthrough and laid the board for the escape on two possessions – 69:64 less than a minute before the end. After a minute of rest on the other side, Katrin Stoičkova scored from half-distance – 69:66. After that, the Bulgarian bench received a technical, and Leković put an end to the match and her brilliant game with a penalty kick…

The most efficient player for the winners was Marija Leković with 19 points, five rebounds and three assists. Nataša Mek added 12 points and 11 rebounds. Bojana Kovačević and Zorana Radonjić scored 11 points each.

On the other side, Kalija Hilsman rebounded with 23 points and 11 rebounds. Borislava Hristova added 15, Karina Konstantinova 11.

The decisive phase of the EuroBasket qualifiers will be played in November this year and February next year, and our selection will again be in a group of four teams, with the top two teams qualifying for the Old Continent championship. The draw is scheduled to take place this spring.