Roundup: CCC Polkowice soar past Polish champions

POLKOWICE (EuroLeague Women / EuroCup Women) – While it's been a tough season for CCC Polkowice, they showed they are still capable of a big performance over the weekend after tearing down reigning Polish champions Wisla Can-Pack.

POLKOWICE DUO DOMINANT IN THE PAINT

A brilliant 20 points and nine boards from Isabelle Harrison, as well as a double-double of 15 points and 10 rebounds from Marija Rezan propelled Polkowice to an eye-catching 81-57 BLK win against their rivals from Krakow.

KIESEL CLASS TAKES DOWN SOPRON

CMB Uni Cargo Gyor were the big winners in Hungary over the weekend as they claimed a superb 85-75 success at fellow EuroLeague Women competitors and league leaders Uniqa Sopron. Brianna Kiesel was deadly from downtown and netted a stellar 23 points, with her headline effort supported by 17 points from Zsofia Simon.

Elsewhere, VBW CEKK Cegled warmed up for this week's EuroCup Women Round of 8 with a nice 83-68 win at PINKK Pesci 424, as Nora Nagy-Bujdoso dropped 23 points.

HOLDERS FALL IN COUPE DE FRANCE

There won't be a third French Cup title for BLMA after the holders were beaten 68-64 in their Quarter-Final clash at Flammes Carolo Basket – thanks mainly to Amel Bouderra impressing with 23 points.

Last year's losing Finalists, Tango Bourges Basket, might get the chance to make amends this time around, comfortably dispatching Mondeville. Shooting guard Paoline Salagnac weighed in with 13 points and 9 rebounds, as the hosts won 75-52 at Le Prado.

There was huge drama between home favorites Basket Landes and the visiting ESBVA-LM, who spoiled the party for the locals by coming away with a dramatic 85-84 victory. An absorbing road win was built on 20 points and 9 rebounds from Mame Sy Diop, as well as 19 points and 8 boards from Aby Gaye.

There will also be a place in the Semi-Finals for Lyon who edged out Angers UFAB 80-77 on their travels.

MCBRIDE FIRING ON ALL CYLINDERS AGAIN

She may have spent most of the season sidelined with a serious injury, but Kayla McBride is back to the form which saw her play a major role in taking Nadezhda to last year's EuroLeague Women Final. The guard put up a spectacular 33 points for Yakin Dogu Universitesi as they breezed past Osmaniye 85-64.

Moriah Jefferson also found her rhythm as she erupted with 27 points for Galatasaray as they collected a comfortable 89-68 home win against Girne Universitesi to keep the pressure on leaders Fenerbahce. They blew away Samsun 106-63 with an astonishing seven different players all posting double-digit scoring returns.

Courtney Paris is also looking unstoppable right now as last week's leading EuroLeague Women player accumulated a wonderful 17 points and 19 rebounds in Hatay’s 66-52 home win against Istanbul Universitesi.

Meanwhile, Chelsea Gray fired 20 points for Bellona Agu as they retained a top four spot with a 74-64 win against Mersin who now drop to a disappointing 7-9 – despite 20 points from debutante Farhiya Abdi. 

ELSWHERE IN EUROPE

A 19-point and 11-rebound double-double from Maria Vadeeva carried Dynamo Kursk to an 89-56 victory at Dynamo Moscow in the Russian Premier League, with leaders UMMC gliding past Dynamo Novosibirsk 84-56 . There was also a win for third-placed Nadezhda after 17 points from Elizabeth Williams took to an 86-63 triumph at Spartak Noginsk.

An 18-point contribution from Jelena Milovanovic helped Perfumerias Avenida squeeze out a 73-70 Liga Femenina success at Mann Filter. Spar Citylift Girona benefitted from 13 points and 10 boards from Ify Ibekwe as they rode past Spar Gran Canaria 72-58.

Passalacqua Ragusa were defeated again in the Italian League as they picked up a seventh loss of the season when going down 64-59 at home to Fila San Martino. There were victories for Reyer Venezia who beat Umbertide 81-62 thanks to 17 points from Debora Carangelo, with Beretta Famila Schio prevailing 70-49 at Torino.

FIBA