Round-up: Svitek can’t stop the rot at CCC Polkowice
POLKOWICE (EuroLeague Women 2017/EuroCup Women 2017) – After being installed as new head coach of CCC Polkowice late last Friday, Stefan Svitek watched his new team crash to a disappointing home loss in his first Polish League outing.
Debut falls flat for Svitek
With vast experience at the international level with Slovak Republic and Hungary, as well as Polish League and EuroLeague Women experience at Wisla Can-Pack, Coach Svitek was not a surprise choice for CCC Polkowice.
The club had lost faith in Vadim Czeczuro after their two early EuroLeague Women losses, as well as a pair of BLK setbacks, with the former Ukraine national team boss paying the price. However, his replacement suffered an immediate blow as Polkowice were beaten 60-51 at home by UMCS Lublin.
That also handed even more of an advantage to arch rivals Wisla who won 84-64 at Widzew Lodz, as Ewelina Kobryn landed a stunning 30 points. They are top of the standings with a 6-1 record, while Polkowice are way back in eighth spot on 4-3.
Hayes hits the heights
A week after being blown off the court by Galatasaray and with no EuroLeague Women victory yet to show for their efforts, Mersin received a lift as they came out on top 75-74 in a dramatic clash against Bellona Agu. Hayes dropped a brilliant 25 points and Gintare Petronyte contributed 19 points to help underpin what could prove an important success.
Another EuroLeague Women rookie in Hatay BSB are also looking for their first win in the competition and they had to stomach the agony of a nerve-shredding 76-75 defeat at Istanbul Universitesi. Tan White made a last gasp basket for the winning side and Latvian center Aija Putnina was on fire with 21 points and 14 boards.
Fenerbahce and Yakin Dogu Universitesi both showed why they are leading candidates for silverware as the former beat Samsun 74-59 behind 23 points from Shekinna Stricklen, as Yakin Dogu stormed to a 108-41 win against Osmaniye, led by 16 points from Bahar Caglar.
Galatasaray also continued their sweet start to the season under Marina Maljkovic as 20 points from Isil Alben proved the cornerstone of an 88-68 triumph at Girne Universitesi.
Loss of Casas hits Landes
It hasn't been a good week for Basket Landes after they followed up their EuoCup Women loss at Reyer Venezia last week with a 76-72 home court loss in the LFB against Mondeville. And, to make matters worse, the co-leaders suffered a potentially serious injury to Queralt Casas who hurt her shoulder just when she was showing some great form.
Tango Bourges Basket benefitted from a nice shooting display by Pauline Salagnac whose 16 points fuelled a 71-60 victory against visiting Tarbes, while Basket Lattes Montpellier shut down Nantes Reze 59-47 on the road as Sarah Michel contributed 14 points.
ESBVA-LM needed to find some offence and a win after their sluggish start to the season, with Alina Iagupova obliging by scoring 15 points in a 77-65 home win against UFAB-49 Angers.
Flammes Carolo Basket came out on top at fellow EuroCup Women competitors Cavigal Nice Basket 80-68 as Amel Bouderra continued her sparkling season with a magnificent 18 points and 13 assists.
Belyakova helps to take down ex-employers
Russia national team captain Evgeniya Belyakova returned to haunt her former team Sparta&K M.R. Vidnoje as she plundered 17 points to propel leaders UMMC Ekaterinburg to a comfortable 70-53 success against their opponents.
Nadezhda had to work hard to see off Dynamo Moscow 76-71 and they were helped by an excellent 19 points and 8 assists from their Spanish point guard, Cristina Ouvina.
Dynamo Kursk had little trouble in breezing past Dynamo Novosibirsk 84-57 as Angel McCoughtry netted 20 points to secure the result on the road.
Elsewhere in Europe
Spar Citylift Girona remain unbeaten at the top of Liga Femenina but were almost pipped by Gernika Bizkaia as they dug out a 59-55 victory, thanks mainly to 17 points from Leonor Rodriguez. Perfumerias Avenida rode to a 79-61 win at Campus Promote after Erica Wheeler amassed 22 points.
Basketball Nymburk beat SBC Ostrava 81-59 as Aleksandra Khomenchuk harvested 17 points, while ZVVZ USK Prague swept to a 129-40 success against MK Technic Brno after Alena Hanusova weighed in with 22 points and 11 rebounds.
Italian side Reyer Venezia suffered their first domestic defeat after being suffocated 60-45 at Gesam Gas Lucca. Ragusa improved their position with a 69-57 victory against Torino after Chiara Consolini scored 20 points, with Beretta Famila Schio still perfect after an 82-64 victory at Fila San Martino.
FIBA
