Round-up: Big guns back to propel UMMC

EKATERINBURG (Euroleague Women 2017/EuroCup Women 2017) - UMMC Ekaterinburg have been re-fuelled by the return of big-hitters Diana Taurasi and Sancho Lyttle, taking down arch rivals Dynamo Kursk over the weekend.

FIRST BLOOD FOR UMMC
The heavyweight duo both stepped out in the Russian Premier League clash between the co-favourites and it was UMMC who prevailed as they ran out 63-56 winners.

Taurasi contributed a team-high 15 points in her first game back, while her compatriot Angel McCoughtry had a fine 21 points and 9 boards in defeat.

Elsewhere, there was a morale-boosting success for Sparta&K M.R. Vidnoje as they took an excellent 76-63 home win against Dynamo Novosibirsk, with Maria Davydova netting 18 points.

However, MBA Moscow's domestic fortunes continue to slide as they crashed to 0-5 in the league after being sunk 66-62 at home to Kazanochka.

AVENIDA BACK ON TOP IN SPAIN
The last unbeaten record in Liga Femenina was snapped on Sunday night as Spar Citylift Girona were beaten for the first time. They were undone by arch rivals Perfumerias Avenida who collected an 85-76 road win to take over the top of the standings.

Adaora Elonu was the standout player with a brilliant 25 points, while Spanish national team shooter Leonor Rodriguez collected 20 points for the hosts.

SCHIO IN COMMAND IN ITALY
There was a big game in the Italian league as well, with Beretta Famila Schio defeating EuroCup Women side, Passalacqua Ragusa 66-53 to preserve their perfect record and maintain pole position. Isabelle Yacoubou came up with a powerful 18 points and 11 boards to hand Ragusa their fourth defeat of the campaign.

Umana Reyer Venezia continue to maintain their position in the chasing pack after completing a 66-56 triumph at Meccanico Nova Vigarano, behind 16 points from Ashley Walker.

FIRST LOSS FOR GALATASARAY
There was a first setback of the season for Marina Maljkovic and Galatasaray as they were beaten 72-64 at Yakin Dogu Universitesi. Quanitra Hollingsworth did the damage with a 19-point, 10-rebound double-double.

It means Fenerbahce are the only club without a loss to their name after they eased to an eye-catching 73-58 victory at Bellona Agu. Allie Quigley amassed 24 points, while Sandrine Gruda went up against her LA Sparks team-mates Ann Wauters, Jelena Dubljevic and Chelsea Gray to finish with 13 points and 15 rebounds.

There are still troubling times for EuroLeague Women duo Mersin and Hatay as they both suffered defeats. The former went down 80-72 at home to Adana Aski despite 21 points and 10 rebounds from Tiffany Hayes, while Hatay suffered a 68-64 reverse in Istanbul against Besiktas.

At least Samsun could celebrate their first win as a combined 38 points from Viktoriya Mircheva and Eshaya Murphy took them past Osmaniye 67-55.

BOJOVIC KEEPS BOURGES IN CONTROL
A super 21 points and five assists from Miljana Bojovic kept Bourges Basket at the helm of the French League table over the weekend as they delivered a major blow to ESBVA-LM by taking a 68-62 road win. It now means Villeneuve are 4-4 and in stark contrast to Bourges who are 7-1.

Basket Landes picked themselves up from their injury woes and recent wobble to overcome Cavigal Nice 71-66. It was new arrival Nevena Jovanovic who came up the goods, firing 21 points on her debut.

Montpellier had no fewer than six players in double-figures as they won 82-73 at Mondeville, with Sarah Michel the standout player with 19 points.

There were also wins for Nantes Reze and Flammes Carolo Basket on their travels. Nantes pipped Lyon 68-66 in a thriller as Katherine Plouffe continued her terrific season with 22 points and 11 rebounds. It was Kaleena Mosqueda-Lewis who delivered for Carolo with 23 points in a 78-64 win at Tarbes.

ELSEWHERE IN EUROPE
He may have taken Hungary to the FIBA EuroBasket Women 2017 Final Round last week but things aren't happening for Stefan Svitek at CCC Polkowice. The EuroLeague Women side are still winless under their recently installed play-caller after crashing 93-76 at home to Basket 90 Gdynia. Meanwhile, Wisla Can-Pack consolidated their leadership by winning 83-59 at Sosnowiec as Ziomara Morrison dropped 17 points.

Basketball Nymburk suffered a 62-55 loss at home to KP Brno in the ZBL as Tereza Peckova scored 19 points for the visitors, while leaders ZVVZ USK Prague locked out Trutnov 83-35 as Kia Vaughn and Anete Steinberga produced a shared 36 points in the paint.

FIBA