Roundup: Schio ink Hruscakova, Artego Bydgoszcz streak ends
SCHIO (EuroLeague/EuroCup Women) – Famila Schio have bolstered their roster with the acquisition of Slovak Republic star Zofia Hruscakova while the unbeaten run of Artgeo Bydgoszcz is over.
Hruscakova lands in Schio
With their frontcourt rotation decimated by serious injuries to center duo Eva Lisec and Kathrin Ress, Italian outfit Famila Schio have turned to the services of Zofia Hruscakova. The forward moves from Dike Napoli and has previous EuroLeague Women experience with both Good Angels Kosice and CMB Cargo Uni Gyor. Schio won 82-48 at Broni without their new signing yesterday as Isabelle Yacoubou scored 21 points.
Elsewhere in Italy, Reyer Venezia got back on the winning track by beating Gesam Gas Lucca 78-73, led by 18 points from Marie Ruzickova, whilst Passalacqua Ragusa strolled past Battipaglia 100-49.
Artego Bydgoszcz finally beaten
EuroCup Women side Artego Bydgoszcz have lost their flawless record in the Polish League as they fell in their 10th outing, losing to new leaders Wisla CANPACK, 78-67. Cheyenne Parker did the damage with 21 points and 10 rebounds.
Some sharp-shooting from the perimeter by Marissa Kastanek dug out an 81-76 triumph for Sleza Wroclaw at Sosnowiec as the guard claimed 19 points. Basket 90 Gdynia outlasted Ostrovia 69-62, with 23 points and 11 rebounds from Kristina Vitola. Gorzow completed a 79-68 victory against MKK Siedlce as Carolyn Swords erupted for 32 points.
Rare failure for Fenerbahce
After losing in EuroLeague Women last week, there was a surprise defeat in the Turkish League for Fenerbahce as they tripped up 79-69 at Botas, with Chelsea Gray netting 22 points for the triumphant hosts.
Both Galatasaray and Agu Spor have had some difficulties of late, but will be relieved to have each won tight games. The former snatched a thriller 79-78 at Cukurova as Isil Alben scored 23 points, while Agu Spor edged out Samsun 67-65, with Australian Marianna Tolo posting a monstrous 20 points and 19 boards.
Jantel Lavender had 17 points and 16 rebounds for Yakin Dogu Universitesi as they overpowered Mersin 89-75, with Courtney Vandersloot also getting a double-double with 20 points and 11 assists. The club have also signed a deal with Sandrine Gruda to further bolster their already star-laden line-up.
Hatay are also showing their quality as they romped past Ormanspor 100-70 thanks to 22 points from the in-form Hind Ben Abdelakder, as well as 14 points and as many rebounds from Courtney Paris. Besiktas coasted past Bornova Beckerspor 92-55 as Iva Radosavljevic scored 22 points, but there was disappointment for Istanbul Universitesi who crashed 94-83 at home to Adana Aski.
Go-time for Griner again
UMMC center Brittney Griner continues to be unstoppable as she poured in 20 points during a comfortable 75-50 victory for Ekaterinburg over Nadezhda in the Russian Premier League. There was also a commanding 92-66 success for Dynamo Kursk against Dynamo Moscow, as Kseniia Levchenko came alive with 17 points in 20 minutes.
Buoyed by their qualification to the second phase of EuroCup Women, MBA Moscow beat Spartak Noginsk 75-67, although Enisey Krasnoyarsk who also advanced in the competition, went down 63-57 at Dynamo Novosibirsk in the Siberian derby. Ivana Dojkic had 16 points and 7 assists for Sparta&K M.R. Vidnoje as they beat Kazanochka 73-62.
ESBVA-LM enjoy a productive week
Having beaten domestic rivals Bourges in EuroLeague Women last week, ESBVA-LM had the joy of escaping from title rivals Flammes Carolo Basket with a terrific 68-65 triumph as Johanne Gomis fired in 18 points. The visitors had trailed by 9 points heading down the stretch, but were helped by a flurry of triples from Gomis, Nevena Jovanovic and Johannah Leedham-Warner.
Proud of my team... staying together is so important in this game. #ESBVA 💪
— Joey Leedham-Warner (@joey_leedham13) December 2, 2017
There was also a loss for the high-flying Basket Landes as they fell victim to Mondeville 55-51, while Nantes Reze were left empty-handed when 23 points from Adjeh Konteh inspired a 72-59 road win for Tarbes
Leaders Bourges hit back from their European setback with 15 points from Valeriane Ayayi spearheading a comfortable 69-53 success against Lyon. Courtney Hurt picked up the misfiring and short-handed BLMA with 22 points as they won 82-56 at Nice, with Saint-Amand outpacing Roche Vendee 66-58.
Elsewhere in Europe
KSC Szekszard had to work hard to see off DVTK Miskolc 59-55 in Hungary, thanks largely to 17 points from Erica McCall. CMB Cargo Uni Gyor sailed past MTK Budapest 92-53 as Cyesha Goree dropped 21 points.
Perfumerias Avenida, Spar Citylift Girona and Lointek Gernika Bizkaia all secured convincing Liga Femenina wins, with Avenida sitting at 9-1 and in pole position – although new signing Kim Mestdagh did not suit up.
A combined 50 points from Celeste Trahan-Davis and Anete Steinberga took Castors Braine to a 99-78 win against Kangoeroes in Belgium as they extended their perfect record to 12-0.
FIBA
