Azzurre Clinch Win, Spoil Swedish Party

Kathrin Ress sealed victory for the Italians, coming up with a block on the final play

Turning Point: Louice Halvarsson picked up her fourth foul right at the start of the second half and it hampered Sweden immensely as Kathrin Ress took full advantage for Italy.

Stats Don't Lie: You can't expect to win many games if you shoot a paltry 26.2%, which is the galling performance Sweden produced.

Game Heroes: Ress came up with a magnificent double-double and game-winning display of 18 points and 14 rebounds.

Italy took a valuable step towards the second round of EuroBasket Women 2013 after they rode out 64-63 winners in a pulsating and dramatic Group B match-up against Sweden.

Back after a 26-year-absence, Sweden were ultimately left heartbroken and reflecting on what might have been, as Italy came up with a big defensive play in the last second of the contest to deny Frida Eldebrink what would have been a winning basket.

Eldebrink had just missed one of two free-throws only moments earlier, but just couldn't convert at the hoop under heavy pressure.

It certainly wasn't the debut Ashley Key had dreamed about for the Swedes and whilst downbeat afterwards, she claimed the size of travelling support would help them bounce back.

She insisted, "We are disappointed, but we have to come back strong tomorrow and get the win that all of our fans deserve.

"They made it like a home game for us and we are hurting for them as much as anything.

"We just didn't make the shots we needed to and we have to move on quickly and put this behind us now."

Aside from a 23-17 advantage in the favour of Italy, it had been a tight game throughout, although Sweden were generally on the back foot because of Louice Halvarsson being sat down in foul trouble.

Still, they fought back and with the result in the balance, they turned the ball over far too many times in the last couple of minutes.

Then, when Giorgia Sottana iced a jump-shot for Italy with 21 seconds left on the clock to make it a two-possession game, it provided enough of a cushion to get over the finishing line - even if only just.

Quotes Sweden vs. Italy

Sweden Player Elin Eldebrink

"I am really disappointed now; I don't know what to say... It was a very tough game, maybe we had the main problem inside. We played pretty well, and we could have won this game."

Italy Player Kathrin Ress

"First of all, I want to congratulate Sweden, they put up a great fight. Both teams are very young with a lack of experience in this kind of games. It was an exciting game and I hope it will be a great match-up in the future."

Sweden Head Coach Lars Johansson

"I want to say congratulations to Italy for the win and a well-played game. Despite the loss, I think we had chances to win. It was a very physical game. We could not find a solution for Kathrin Ress today, who was huge in scoring and on the rebounds."

Italy Head Coach Roberto Ricchini

"Destiny wanted that this game was the first for both teams, and it could be a decisive game in the end. I want to congratulate Sweden for the game they played."