BANGKOK (FIBA U19 World Championship for Women) - Former champions Czech Republic overcame some initial hiccups to beat 2008 European U18 Championship winners Lithuania 84-72 in Group B on Thursday.

Lithuania did all the running in the first quarter which they led 24-21.

The Czechs found their bearings midway through the second quarter and from there only grew in confidence and scoring.

Renata Brazinova led the scoring for the Czechs with 16 points - 11 of them in the first half.

Katerina Bartonova, who made her mark while playing for the senior women's team at the Eurobasket in Latvia, and Andrea Sladkova scored 12 points each.

For Lithuania, Egle Siksniute was the leading scorer with a game-high 21 points.

FIBA