FIBA Women’s EuroBasket 2027 Qualifiers: Ireland 54-90 Israel
Ireland missed out on the chance to qualify for the second round of the FIBA Women’s EuroBasket 2027 Qualifiers, following a 90-54 defeat to Israel in their behind closed doors game in Riga, Latvia on Tuesday.
Ireland’s 81-78 away victory over Bosnia and Herzegovina last Saturday meant they had a chance to secure one of the three best-ranked third-placed teams from seven groups, if they won their final Group A game.
Ireland opened the scoring with a pair of free throws, but Israel responded with a Dorian Dahan Sujic three and they would lead thereafter. Israel would be 29-8 up at the end of the opening quarter.
Ireland kept battling, a five-point run saw them trail 41-16 midway through the second quarter and James Weldon’s side would go in 48-21 behind at half-time.
Israel, who had won all five previous qualifiers in the campaign, kept the pressure on and they would lead 75-36 by the end of the third.
Ireland were much improved in the fourth quarter and outscored their opponents 18-15.
But they ultimately finish third in the Group A table, with a record of two wins and four defeats.
Head coach Weldon said: “We are all very disappointed that we did not put in the performance we wanted tonight.
“We were not happy with our start and to be fair Israel played extremely well.
“The squad is still relatively young and there will always be setbacks along the way.
“This stings and will for a while, but when the group looks back on the campaign as whole, we will see the overall progress.”