BANGKOK (FIBA U19 World Championship for Women) - Argentina carved out an exciting 67-75 Overtime win over fancied Russia to enter the semifinal on Friday.

Andrea Boquete emerged the savior for Argentina as the South American nation made their maiden entry into the semifinals.

The previous best finish for Argentina was a ninth place finish in 1997.

Trailing 57-59, with less than five seconds left, Boquete scored from the paint to level the scores and extend the encounter.

And in the Overtime, after Nadia Flores had converted a free-throw and Debora Gonzalez had capped a fast break, Boquete took charge.

Nayla Kraft's attempt came off the ring, but Boquete collected the rebound and converted. And moments later followed it up with a sizzling three-pointer to put Argentina in control.

Anna Ostrukhova scored on the paint to reduce the margin, but Argentina ran out the remaining time to clinch the victory.

Boquete returned a double-double, adding 10 rebounds to her 18 points for the game.

Agostina Burani had 12 and Gonzalez 11.

Russia had earlier fought well to hold the edge, when Anastasia Loginova converted two back-to-back three-pointers and Anastasia Logunova converted two free throws.

But Boquete's plans spoilt Russia's.

Logunova scored 14 points and collected 11 rebounds. Tatiana Petrushina Russia's leading scorer before today' game accounted for 13 points and Loginova 10.

"This is a victory to the girls' spirit," Argentina coach Eduardo Pinto said.

"We won more because we believed we could especially in the closing moments of the fourth quarter," he added.

Argentina will play against the winners of the Spain-Lithuania quarterfinal.

FIBA