Sweden was already ready for this summer's European Championships in France and Spain and Thursday's qualifying match away against Montenegro was for the Swedish part instead of taking the group victory and thus being seeded in the European Championships.
They could afford to lose by 13 points but still take the group victory in mutual meetings against Montenegro.
Sweden got off to a good start when they took the lead and controlled the match until the end of the first half.
Then Montenegro took over instead and had 32-30 at the break.
The best scorer in the first half for the Swedish part was Frida Eldebrink with eight points.
In Montenegro, 33-year-old veteran Jelena Dubljevic had scored 17 points.
Montenegro barely won
Sweden would equalize directly in the second half but at 38-39 Montenegro would turn around and go away to 47-39.
Then Frida Eldebrink scored two straight three points and the score before the last period was 50-49.
There, the match would swing properly, Sweden turned 55-49 to 55-56 but then Montenegro would turn back to 60-56 and then Sweden timed out.
But Montenegro would hold off and win 69-67.
The best scorer in Sweden was Frida Eldebrink with 26 points.
Despite the loss, Sweden won the qualifying group as they had better meetings against Montenegro.
- It is huge and gives us confidence even though we lost today, says Kalis Loyd to SVT Sport after the match.