Italy Women secured a comfortable 71-49 victory over Austria Women in the European Women’s Basketball Championship qualifiers on Sunday, using a dominant second half to turn a tight contest into a one-sided affair.

Match overview

The first quarter was a defensive struggle. Austria, playing at home, held Italy to 14 points and trailed by just three (17-14) after ten minutes. The hosts’ zone defense frustrated Italy’s half-court offense, and Austria’s guards attacked the basket with confidence. The second quarter followed a similar pattern, but Italy slowly began to find rhythm from beyond the arc. A late 8-2 run gave Italy a 34-25 halftime lead.

The third quarter was where Italy took full control. They opened with a 10-0 run, forcing Austria into turnovers and poor shot selection. Italy’s defensive pressure led to easy transition baskets, and the lead ballooned to 50-31. Austria never threatened again. Italy’s bench played the entire fourth quarter, and the visitors still outscored Austria 21-18 to complete the 22-point win.

Key moments

• Second-quarter close: Italy’s 8-2 run in the final two minutes of the first half gave them a nine-point cushion.
• Third-quarter explosion: A 10-0 run to start the second half broke Austria’s resistance.
• Defensive wall: Italy held Austria to 49 points on 31% shooting and forced 20 turnovers.

Tactical story

Italy’s coach made a key adjustment at halftime, switching to a smaller lineup that increased the team’s speed and spacing. The move allowed Italy to switch screens more effectively and close out on Austria’s shooters. Offensively, Italy attacked the basket relentlessly, drawing fouls and kicking out to open shooters. Austria’s zone defense, which worked well in the first half, became a liability as Italy’s ball movement and three-point shooting (9-of-22) picked it apart. Austria struggled to generate offense against Italy’s half-court defense, often settling for contested jumpers.

Standout players

Italy’s forward Giulia Rossi led the way with 18 points and 9 rebounds, while guard Francesca Bianchi added 14 points and 5 assists. Center Elena Colombo controlled the paint with 12 points and 12 rebounds. For Austria, guard Anna Berger scored 13 points, and forward Lisa Wagner added 10 points and 7 rebounds, but no other Austrian player scored more than 6 points. Austria’s leading scorer was held to 5-of-15 shooting.

Season impact

Italy’s win puts them in a strong position in the group and highlights their defensive potential. Austria, meanwhile, will need to find more offensive firepower and improve their ball movement against pressure defenses. The loss leaves Austria with work to do before their next qualifier, while Italy can take confidence from a professional road performance.