Both Britain and the Israelis needed to win after defeats to the Czech Republic and Belarus respectively in their previous games.

It was Britain who started stronger, with two points from Kim Butler and five from Natalie Stafford putting them 7-6 up half way through the first quarter, though Israel hit back to take an 11-8 lead.

By the first break Britain were 13-11 up, with Natalie Stafford in particularly prolific form, netting a three pointer to then help Britain to a 21-11 lead.

Israel took a time out, but within moments of the restart Kim Butler extended the lead before Shay Doron pulled three points back for the Israelis.

Chantelle Handy restored Britain's supremacy with a jump shot, and further points from both Doron and Britain's Azania Stewart made the score 37-24 at the half way point.

Butler added another point at the start of the second period before adding a jump shot and an assist for Julie Page as Britain raced into a 16 point lead.

Israel then rallied with six successive points before the run was broken by Butler.

Jo Leedham then converted a three pointer to make it 47-30, and she then repeated the trick before Butler netted, but Katia Levitsky pulled points back for the Israelis to make the score 54-37 at the final break.

Meirav Doni then struck for Israel but Page and Leedham both racked up the points to increase Britain's lead, and Stafford then extended the lead to 21 points, forcing Israel to call a timeout.

It proved to be a wise decision by Israel coach Eli Rabi, as they took five points in succession, but late points from Leedham and Handy clinched the win which saw Britain progress.

Coach Tom Maher was delighted with his team's performance.

"It was a dream to win that game. It was a big big game and I was extremely nervous about it.

"I looked at some of the Israel players and they are top-class, so I knew it would be really hard but we knuckled down and we were always safe.

"It wasn't just a win, it was a comfortable win.

"Natalie Stafford scored early and really got going.

"Julie [Page] had a great game, she gets a lot of things done. Jo [Leedham] did well and played some great defence as well, but it would be unfair to single people out.

"We went with eight players, we play well together as a group.

"We had some great defending, we won the rebounding 47-25 and that's a great team stat."

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