The Croatian outfit were involved in a thrilling contest with the University of Bologna at the Dražen Petrović Sports Hall and managed to squeeze through to the gold medal game with a narrow 71-68 victory.

Zagreb’s Ružica Džankić admitted they weren’t at their best and that they “struggled” throughout the majority of the encounter before they edged over the winning line.

“We had to fight very hard to win, much harder than we had expected to,” she said.

“We entered the game slowly, we allowed them to dictate the tempo, and we struggled the entire game.

“We had some luck as well.

“Bologna is very fierce, they didn’t give up until the very end.”

Alba Iua were also pushed all the way in their semi-final encounter as they battled to a 64-61 triumph against the University of Belgrade.

Elisabeth Pavel proved to be the star of the show for the Romanian outfit, notching 22 points and 18 rebounds to fire her side into the final.

Belgrade captain Jovana Vukoje ended the match with 21 points but her efforts proved to be in vain as they succumbed to an agonising defeat.

Elsewhere at the event in Zagreb and Rijeka, the men’s handball title will be won by either German Sport University Cologne or the University of Niš after both teams progressed to the tournament’s showpiece match-up.

Cologne claimed a 28-24 success against the University of Vern, located in Croatia’s capital, while Niš ousted the Portuguese University of Minho 31-24.

In the women’s competition, the team from Rijeka will get the chance to clinch the title in front of their home supporters but a strong side from Lithuania await in the gold medal match.

Rijeka reached the final by dispatching Ljubljana 28-18 and Lithuania thrashed Zagreb 34-19, during which Klaudia Šidlauskyte scored nine goals.

The event in Croatia continues tomorrow.