European Curling Championships: Norway edge out Scotland to make women's semi finals

Scotland skip Rebecca Morrison reckons her rink have made big strides this year

Scotland's women missed out on a semi-final spot at the European Curling Championships in Aberdeen following a tense 9-7 defeat to Norway.

Skip Rebecca Morrison, who picked up a bronze medal last year, had a chance to level with the last stone of the match but it rolled off inches too far.

Norway progress to the last four for the first time since 2005, joining Italy, Switzerland and Sweden.

The Scots finish fifth in the standings with five wins and four defeats.

"We finished on the same record as we did last year but I feel we've come on leaps and bounds, even without making the play-offs," Morrison told BBC Scotland.

"I'm really proud. We had great games against every team and we have so much more to give."

In what was a straight shootout for the semi-finals, both rinks were guilty of errors, leading to some unlikely steals.

A heavy stone from Kristin Skaslien allowed Scotland to pinch three in the fourth end, but the Norwegians were able to plunder three back immediately.

The nervous ebb and flow continued, with Morrison levelling things up with a two to make it 7-7 after eight ends.

Norway edged ahead by one again and did enough to protect their slender advantage in the last end when Morrison's misjudgement with her penultimate stone swung the odds in their favour.

"Both teams had the same thing on the line and everyone was fighting as hard as they could," added Morrison.

"It's really tough when it comes down to such a tight game. A few key moments here and there, makes a difference."