Who was each nation's MVP of the November window?

MUNICH (Germany) - There were plenty of outstanding performances during the second window of the FIBA Women's EuroBasket 2021 Qualifiers, but some were in a class of their own.

With each nation given their collective assessment grade for the window, it is now time to turn the spotlight on those individuals who lit it up, and we take a lot at each nation's MVP of the November window.

Group A

Slovenia  

Shante Evans - PF/C / 1.85m / 1991

Statistics: 21.5 PPG; 67% FG; 8.0 RPG; EFF 26.5

Without a couple of starting players, Evans stepped up to the plate to take Slovenia to the brink of qualification via two super displays against Iceland and Greece. She was too hot to handle for opposing defenses and would have racked up even bigger digits had she not fouled out against Greece.

Greece  

Maria Fasoula - C / 1.92m / 1997

Statistics: 12.0 PPG; 7.0 RPG

It is a relief she didn't sustain serious damage after leaving the Slovenia game early with a head injury that saw her being taken to hospital by paramedics. Despite the setback, Fasoula still racked up the team MVP honors, with her pivotal performance of 21 points and 11 rebounds against Bulgaria.

 

Bulgaria  

Borislava Hristova - SG/SF / 1.81m / 1996

Statistics: 18.0 PPG; 3.0 RPG

Bulgaria didn't manage to achieve the win double they dreamed of, but are still fighting towards progressing from the group thanks mainly to Hristova. She she made the Gameday 4 Top Performers after an outstanding 25 points against Iceland.

Iceland  

Sara Run Hinriksdottir - SF/PF/ 1.80m / 1996

Statistics: 27.0 PPG; 7.5 RPG; 3.0 APG

While Iceland suffered as a team during two heavy losses, Hinriksdottir was exceptional. She poured in 23 points against Slovenia and erupted against Bulgaria with a spectacular 31 points to attain Top Performer honors. It's a pity none of her colleagues could support her classy headline displays.

Group B

Sweden   A

Frida Eldebrink - SG / 1.75m / 1988

Statistics: 28 PTS; 64% FG; 5 REB; 3 AST

When overwhelming favorites, you don't want to make life complicated. Step forward Frida Eldebrink who got her team immediately onto the front foot against Israel, harvesting a brilliant 28 points, via an eye-catching 64 percent shooting effort.

Montenegro  

Milica Jovanovic - PF / 1.89m / 1989

Statistics: 23 PTS; 10 REB; 5 AST; 3 BLK

The forward is arguably one of the most underrated and recognized players in the European game and once again showed her quality and consistency. Her double-double against Israel eased the nerves She showed her range of skills at both ends of the floor with those assists and blocks.

Israel  

Alexandra Cohen - PF/C / 1.96m / 1993

Statistics: 13.0 PPG; 6.5 RPG

It's tough for Cohen as the only player on the Israeli roster with any kind of real size and height inside. While she hit a brick wall against Sweden like most around her, her 21-point and 10-rebound double-double against Montenegro was impressive.

Group C

Russia   

Raisa Musina - PF/ 1.92m / 1998

Statistics: 20.0 PPG; 58% FG; 7.5 RPG

Having missed the first window with injury, the value of Musina returning was demonstrated with two big performances. The forward had spoken of the need to keep Russia's Final Round legacy alive and her critical 25 points in the key game against Bosnia and Herzegovina went a long way towards securing it.

Bosnia and Herzegovina   

Marica Gajic - PF / 1.85m / 1995

Statistics: 17.0 PPG; 18.5 RPG; 4.5 STL

It was a typically productive effort from Gajic in both games and especially those eye-popping numbers on the glass. Her balance of strength, mobility and smarts shone through as usual and while she didn't have her best shooting night against Russia, that's still a massive double-double window.

Switzerland  

Charlotte Kohler - PF/ 1.89m / 2001

Statistics: 10.0 PPG; 3.5 RPG

Nobody was able to exceed mediocrity in the hammering by Russia, but against Estonia, it was Kohler who brought some of her best basketball. Her 20 points and 6 rebounds underpinned a welcome success, which secured a second win of the campaign.

Estonia  

Janne Pulk - SG / 1.71m / 2000

Statistics: 13.5 PPG; 2.0 RPG

It was a bleak window for Estonia, firstly being dismantled brutally by Bosnia and Herzegovina, prior to throwing away a handy lead against Switzerland. Yet Pulk was the one player consistent across both games, posting 15 and 12 points respectively. 

Group D

Czech Republic  

Katerina Elhotova - SG / 1.80m / 1989

Statistics: 23.0 PPG; 70% FG

When Elhotova is in this kind of form she's simply unguardable at times. Showing why she's one of the best shooting guards in Europe, she dropped 21 points in the win against Denmark and then 25 points in the defeat against Italy, which helped her side to avoid losing the crucial head to head against their main rivals.

 

Italy  

Cecilia Zandalasini - SG/ 1.85m / 1996

Statistics: 15.0 PPG; 6.5 APG

With two wins, it was a productive window for Italy and while it might be a familiar scenario in terms of Zandalasini taking MVP honors, it was not for the usual headline performances. The guard showed the other side to her game with a mature performance that saw her hand out more than 6 assists per game and her consistency across the two victories was essential.

 

Denmark  

Maria Jespersen - F / 1.83m / 1994

Statistics: 26.5 PPG; 5.5 RPG

The first win for Demark at this level since 1999 will live long in the memory - especially for the forward. She was sensational and her 35 points against Romania was the highest by anyone in the Qualifiers, leading to deserved Top Performer honors.

 

Romania  

Elisabeth Pavel - C / 1.91m / 1990

Statistics: 12.0 PPG; 7.5 RPG

This was a window to forget about for Romania after losing twice and notably to Denmark by quite some distance. At least Pavel can hold her head high since she was one player in the Romanian camp who played somewhere near the required level.

Group E

Serbia   

Yvonne Anderson - PG / 1.75m / 1990

Statistics: 19.0 PPG; 4.5 RPG; 6.5 APG

Would Serbia be in such a great position to progress to Final Round without their new addition? Probably not. Anderson chose a great time to arrive and shine, with her headline performance in the double-overtime roller-coaster against Turkey the best of Gameday 4.

Turkey  

Isil Alben - PG / 1.72m / 1986

Statistics: 17 PTS, 5 AST

While Quanitra Hollingsworth edged the top efficiency for Turkey in that pulsating loss to Serbia, it was surely the return and performance of the legendary Alben that gave them the chance of a potential win. She finished with 17 points and 5 assists, making a massive triple towards the end of regulation, but her team just couldn't get over the line.

Lithuania  

Laura Juskaite - PF / 1.86m / 1997

Statistics: 15 PTS; 5 STL

Lithuania desperately needed a selection of different players to make a mark in the match-up with Serbia, but only Juskaite hit anywhere near top gear. However, her 15 points and great defensive work with 5 steals was not enough to stave off defeat.

Group F

Great Britain  

Chantelle Handy - PF / 1.88m / 1987

Statistics: 19 PTS; 5 REB

The veteran forward set the tone for Great Britain to complete a fine victory against Poland with some sharp perimeter shooting. She accumulated 19 points and it was also her leadership that impressed, with the Brits missing several senior stars.

Poland   

Marissa Lee Kastanek - SG / 1.75m / 1990

Statistics: 16 PTS; 5 REB

In something of a nightmare for Poland, there was little positivity to note in the heavy loss to Great Britain. However, Arka Gdynia guard Marissa Lee Kastanek did post a strong individual showing with 16 points and 5 rebounds per game.

Group G

Belgium   

Jana Raman - PF / 1.86m / 1991

Statistics: 12.0 PPG; 9.5 RPG

One of the most improved players on the international stage in these past years, it's time to shine a light on the Cats' forward. Following on from her eye-catching displays in the FIBA Olympic Women's Qualifying Tournament back in February, she helped her team make up for the absence of Emma Meesseman and Kyara Linskens with two impressive outings.

Ukraine  

Alina Iagupova - SG/SF / 1.86m / 1992

Statistics: 27.0 PPG; 9.5 RPG; 8.5 APG

There's nothing much left to say about the absolute brilliance of Iagupova, who was the Gameday 3 Top Performer. Those magnificent stats from the window speak volumes.

 

Portugal  

Sofia Silva - C / 1.90m / 1990

Statistics: 10.5 PPG; 7.0 RPG; 3.0 APG

It was slim pickings for Portugal in this 0-2 window when nobody really got into any kind of gear. The loss to Belgium saw a good defensive fight, with Silva then impressing with 17 points and 9 rebounds in defeat to Finland.

Finland  

Elina Koskimies - G / 1.80m / 1996

Statistics: 14.5 PPG; 5.5 RPG

After a game to forget for everyone against Ukraine, Koskimies inspired her nation's first win of the campaign. She contributed a super 21 points and 5 rebounds against Portugal, meaning Finland left the window on a positive vibe.

Group H

Netherlands  

Emese Hof - C / 1.90m / 1996

Statistics: 17.5 PPG; 9.5 RPG

Hof helped to complete a fruitful double over Hungary with 13 points and 12 rebounds, while she was the standout player in the loss to Slovakia with 22 points. Now she'll look forward to making a splash in the EuroLeague Women bubble with Avenida.

Hungary  

Cyesha Goree - C / 1.88m / 1993

Statistics: 16 PTS; 15 REB

As Hungary lost for a second time against Netherlands in the group, it would have been even worse had it not been for the center. She was one of the few Hungarian players to come out with any credit after posting a double-double for her adopted country.

Slovakia  

Sabina Oroszova - PF / 1.92m / 1993

Statistics: 18 PTS; 8 REB; 5 AST

Oroszova was the driving force for an excellent win against Netherland as she produced a repeat of her super showing from November 2019. The all-action forward was unstoppable at times and finished with 18 points, 8 rebounds and 5 assists.

Group I

Croatia   

Ivana Dojkic - SG / 1.80m / 1997

Statistics: 27.5 PPG; 4.0 RPG; 5.5 APG

Dojkic erupted in the opener against North Macedonia with an electric 30 points to land Top Performer honors for her country. The ZVVZ USK Praha star then went cold against Latvia early, but came alive again to help Croatia avoid the head to head loss in only a modest defeat. A massive scoring threat, where would Croatia be without her?

 

Germany  

Marie Guelich - PF / 1.95m / 1994

Statistics: 14.0 PPG; 14.0 RPG

The numbers speak for themselves as Germany collected a pair of wins against Latvia and North Macedonia. While others made big contributions and plays, notably Leonie Fiebiech and Luisa Geiselsoder, Guelich was a constant menace in the paint and the anchor for the victories.

 

Latvia  

Anete Steinberga - C/ 1.90m / 1990

Statistics: 19.5 PPG; 8.0 RPG; 3.5 APG

The center underlined her quality and importance to the team having not been present at the Final Round in 2019 or the first window. A solid presence in the narrow loss to Germany and win against Croatia, without her it would have been more tricky.

North Macedonia  

Andzelika Mitrasinovik - PG / 1.78m / 1993

Statistics: 22.5 PPG; 4.5 APG

While all eyes were on the arrival of Dewanna Bonner, playmaker Mitrasinovik arguably upstaged her teammate with an excellent window. Her 15 points against Croatia was impressive but she then turned up the dial for a tally of 30 against Germany, showing that while a naturalized option helps, North Macedonia does have homegrown game too!

FIBA