Thoresen voted tournament’s MVP

Austria lived up to their billing as favourites in the women’s 2012 European Championship for Small States last week as they beat hosts Macedonia 68-63 in the final.

Malta had won the past two editions of the tournament but this time they had to settle for third place.

On Sunday, the team led by Santino Coppa, now in his 10th year at the helm, beat Scotland handsomely 72-52 to claim the bronze medal.

The Maltese girls played re-markably well in the group phase of the tournament but were unable to beat Austria in the semi-finals (61-53) on Saturday.

Malta forward Rebecca Thore-sen wrapped up a positive week for her in Struga as she was voted the tournament’s MVP after av-eraging 17 points, 5.2 rebounds and 4.8 assists in five matches.