UMMC ease into the Quarter-Finals, Fenerbahce Oznur Kablo put on a masterclass

MUNICH (Germany) - UMMC Ekaterinburg became the second club to make the EuroLeague Women post-season after they got the win they needed to advance to the Quarter-Finals on Tuesday.

While they had to work hard to see off a resilient Beretta Famila Schio side who started poorly but worked their way back into contention, UMMC playcaller Miguel Mendez watched his team stay unbeaten as they attained a 74-58 victory to improve to 4-0 in Group C.

 
Breanna Stewart top-scored with 16 points, Alba Torrens handed out 10 assists and Brittney Griner posted her first minutes of the season in the tournament.

Having picked up a defeat in the first hub, Fenerbahce Oznur Kablo re minded the rest of the league why they were one of the pre-season favorites to make the Final Four with an excellent start to Hub 2 in Prague. Spurred on by the hot-hand of Kayla McBride and the return of last season's MVP Alina Iagupova, they brutally dismantled ZVVZ USK Praha 99-70 in Group B as the Czech hosts struggled without injured centerpiece Alyssa Thomas.

McBride scored the first 11 points of the contest and finished with a sparkling game-high 26 points, along with 6 rebounds and 5 assists, while Iagupova starred with 23 points and 9 rebounds. There was also an added bonus for head coach Victor Lapena as Cecilia Zandalasini returned to form with 20 points. 

Also in Group B, LDLC ASVEL Feminin survived a huge scare against VBW Arka Gdynia as they squeezed out a precious 79-76 victory.

In a game completely different from the blowout that took place during the first hub, Lyon had to dig it out in crunch time as Aleksandra Crvendakic top scored with 16 points and Nayo Raincock-Ekunwe produced a smart 15 points and 7 rebounds. Both Barbora Balintova and Alice Kunek share 42 points in defeat as Gdynia dropped to 0-4.

Dynamo Kursk extracted some sweet revenge for their opening hub loss to Nadezhda as they won their first game of the season in Group A. They put their foot on the gas late in the game to soar past their domestic rivals and take an 86-82 success. Arike Ogunbowale starred with 23 points from the backcourt, with Zhosselina Maiga contributing and important 12 point and 9 rebound cameo.

Perfumerias Avenida still lead the group after what was a tale of two halves against Izmit Belediyespor. The Turkish side were taking their first Regular Season footsteps and looked to be on course for an upset when leading at the break.

However, Avenida erupted with a spectacular 63 second-half points  to storm their way to a 101-80 win and extend their perfect record. Katie-Lou Sameulson continues to love her first EuroLeague Women adventures after the American dropped 29 points to lead the way, with Tiffany Hayes adding 22 points. 

Izmit will take some solace from the fact that they had no fewer than five players post a double-digit scoring return, but just lacked the depth of rotation to keep pace. Brazilian Clarissa Dos Santos claimed 14 points and 10 rebounds.

Spar Girona benefited from a rapid start in their Group C matchup with TTT Riga and that paved the way for a comfortable 82-52 win. Now 3-1, it was Maria Araujo who impressed most as she recorded 19 points and 12 rebounds to ensure TTT remain winless.

 
With Sopron Basket having already topped Group D and made it through to the Quarter-Finals, it now looks like Galatasaray stand on the verge of joining them after completing the double over Basket Landes. A mere 24 hours after beating their rivals in convincing fashion, they followed it up with a commanding 78-59 win as Angel McCoughtry registered a fine 26-point haul.

FIBA