PARIS (EuroLeague Women 2017/EuroCup Women 2017) – Basket Lattes Montpellier are continuing to harvest domestic trophies at the expense of Tango Bourges Basket after they came out on top in the Match of Champions clash at the LFB Open.

HISTORY AND JOY FOR BLMA

The showpiece game on the opening weekend of the French season witnessed BLMA emerge victorious in a tight affair against their rivals. They pulled out a 63-57 triumph against Bourges to win the Champions game for the first time in their history. It was a real team effort from Montpellier as Fatimatou Sacko led the way with 13 points, as her side finished the contest on a 17-8 run to finish on top.

In the LFB Open league games, there was a rude awakening to the season for EuroCup Women newcomers Cavigal Nice Basket 06 as they were blown away 93-67 by UFAB 49. There were wins for other EuroCup Women clubs Basket Landes who beat Hainaut 70-62 as Celine Dumerc scored 15 points on her debut, while her Rio replacement Amel Bouderra also netted 15 points as Flammes Carolo Basket eased past Nantes Reze 65-58. The major surprise came for EuroLeague Women participants Villeneuve d’Ascq who were rocked 67-63 by Mondeville as Canadian star Kim Gaucher torched them with 22 points.

SPARTA&K SUFFER EARLY SETBACK

There was disappointment for Sparta&K M.R. Vidnoje on opening day of the Russian Premier League as they suffered a 59-47 reverse against derby rivals Dynamo Moscow.

To make matters worse, it was their alumni Ksenia Tikhonenko who did the damage with an inspired 18 points and 14 rebounds. The most exciting encounter came in Novosibirsk as the home team managed to outlast Enisey Krasnoyarsk Region 88-84 as Canadian national team forward Tamara Tatham erupted for a spectacular 32 points and 12 boards.

The new-look Nadezhda Orenburg Region breezed their way to an 87-54 victory against Spartak Noginsk as Lyudmila Sapova and Zhosselina Maiga both went for 17 points. Reigning champions UMMC Ekaterinburg were also on form as they won 76-56 in Vologda against Chevakata as Mariia Cherepanova took advantage of some big names having still not arrived from the WNBA to contribute 16 points and 11 rebounds.

SOPRON CEMENT FAVOURITE STATUS IN HUNGARY

Uniqa Sopron showed why they are favourites in Hungary once again as they opened their campaign with a 105-72 win against BEAC Ujbuda with six players in double-figures – including rising homegrown star Debora Dubei. Uni Gyor were similarly dominant against MTK Budapest with Slovak Republic's Zsofia Hruscakova netting 18 points in a 76-50 success against MTK Budapest.

In the all-EuroCup Women clash between VBW CEKK Cegled and Aluinvent Miskolc, it was the former who prevailed 67-57. That was thanks mainly to 17 points from Serbian veteran Jelena Maksimovic and should act as a confidence booster for the home side ahead of the EuroCup Women Qualifiers.

Finally, PEAC-Pecs squeezed out a 72-70 win against Atomeromu as Jessica Kuster came up with a double-double of 22 points and 10 rebounds.

ELSEWHERE IN EUROPE

Liga Femenina favourites and recent Spanish SuperCup winners Perfumerias Avenida moved 2-0 in the league as they completed a comfortable 71-52 win at Quesos El Pastor CD Zamarat.

Romanian national team leader Gabriela Marginean weighed in with 16 points.

Ben Hind Abdelkadar and Malgorzata Misiuk shared 40 points for Wisla Can-Pack as they tipped off the defence of their BLK title with a one-sided 91-72 victory against MKK Siedlce. Meanwhile, there was disappointment for EuroCup Women newcomers Basket 90 Gdynia who fell 72-68 on their home floor against JAS-FBG Zaglebie Sosnowiec.

The leading clubs in the Italian League all got off to a flying start. Umana Reyer Venezia had 20 points from Ashleigh Fontenette fuelling a 63-51 win against Fixi Piramis Torino, Astou Ndour racked up 21 points for Passalacqua Ragusa as they won 69-54 at Carispezia La Spezia, while Beretta Famila Schio beat Battipaglia 66-43.

FIBA