EuroCup Women - Regular Season Week 4 Review

FRIBOURG/WASSERBURG (EuroCup Women) - With a trip to Rio to look forward to next year, Canada national team colleagues Miranda Ayim and Nayo Raincock-Ekunwe are building all-important form and momentum during the club season as they continue to light it up in EuroCup Women.

No stranger to the competition, Ayim poured in 19 points for Basket Landes who became the first team in the competition to seal a spot in the Round of 16 after stretching their unbeaten run to four games with a 67-54 success at Elfic Fribourg in Group F.

While TSV 1880 Wasserburg have not quite punched their ticket, Raincock-Ekunwe helped her side take a significant step forwards with a 14 point and 10 rebound double-double in a resounding 72-55 triumph in Group E against Pinkk Pesci 424 - that made it three wins in four for the German champions.

They now have a share of top spot with the same 3-1 record as Nantes Reze, who suffered their first defeat after going down 69-59 in Italy against Reyer Venezia. The winning side were propelled by a stunning 25 points and 14 boards from Karima Christmas.

Also in Group D, Lulea BBK completed their first ever road win by outpacing Energia Ivanovo 84-77, thanks to a monumental double-double of 36 points and 12 rebounds from Katlyn Bussey.

Sparta&K M.R. Vidnoje swept aside a visiting Besiktas team with some senior international players and veterans as they prevailed in their Group A encounter by a jaw-dropping 109-58. Julia Gladkova, Maria Vadeeva and Emma Meesseman all scored 19 points.

In the same group, newcomers Piestanske Cajky showed they really love playing in Turkey after following up their previous success at Besiktas, with an eye-opening 72-63 win at Adana Aski. Monica Engelman was the driving force as she garnered 21 points.

A staggering 20 rebounds from Ksenia Tikhonenko provided the solid platform for WBC Dynamo Moscow to take a 66-59 home win against Udominate in Group B, while TTT Riga lost for the first time.

They went down 80-78 at Orduspor in a dramatic match-up, which was won with a majestic 33 points from EuroBasket Women champion Jelena Milovanovic.

Enisey Krasnoyarsk are locked with Chevakata at the top on a 3-1 record after they extracted revenge for a heart-breaking loss at Edirnespor earlier in the campaign. They turned the tables by completing a 73-70 victory, thanks to the 24-point hot hand of Belgian guard Noemi Mayombo.

After opening up with three losses in a row, Peac Pecs belatedly got a victory on the board in Group F after waltzing their way to an 84-43 win at home to Basketball Nymburk. Cristina Pedrals and Diana Furesz shared 32 points.

Dike Napoli moved a bit closer to the next round in Group G after leaving Orange Blizzards still searching for a historic maiden win. The Italians made home advantage count as Natalie Achonwa and Cassie Burdick harvested double-doubles as they overcome the Dutch side 72-59.

Finally in Group H, Antonia Delaere poured in 20 points for Belfius Namur Capitale in a 67-56 win against Angers Basket, which brought the Belgians onto the same 2-2 record as their rivals.

Go to fibaeurope.com/eurocupwomen for full coverage of the EuroCup Women.

FIBA