BANGKOK (FIBA U19 World Championship for Women) - Argentina and Lithuania were involved in an oscillating battle before the former seized control in the final five minutes and went on to score a decisive 61-57 win in a pivotal Group E eight-final round game on Wednesday.

The win which took Argentina to a 4-2 record in the competition put the South American nation firmly in the No 2 spot in Group E, and thus booked a maiden quarterfinal berth for Eduardo Pinto's girls.

Lithuania will now hope Brazil do not pull a miracle against Australia in the final game tonight to keep their progress secure.

Fortunes swung like the proverbial pendulum with neither able to show any dominance. Leads changed often and the teams looked edgy, under the pressure of a place in the quarterfinals beckoning.

Ornella Santana scored eight points, of her 11 for the game, which helped Argentina outscore their opponents 17-8 in the final five minutes of the game, which clinched them the issue.

Agostina Burani had kept Argentina in the race with her 12 points and seven rebounds.

Egle Siksniute had a game-high 18 points for Lithuania, but only four in the fourth quarter.

FIBA