BRNO (FIBA Olympic Qualifying Tournament for Women) – Belarus were pummelled in Prostejove on Monday by the Czech Republic but less than 24 hours later against the same opponents, it was a different story.

The Belarus that many expect to qualify for the Beijing Games showed up and won the friendly against the Czechs, 70-53, in Brno on Tuesday.

Yelena Leuchanka led the way with 21 points for last year’s EuroBasket Women bronze-medal winners, who stretched a 40-34 half-time lead to 59-45 with 10 minutes remaining.

They stayed on top the rest of the way.

Belarus beat the Czech Republic in the quarter-finals of last year’s EuroBasket in Italy before going on to finish third.

They will play in Group D of the FIBA Olympic Qualifying Tournament with Cuba and Chinese Taipei while the Czechs are in Group B with Angola and Argentina.

FIBA