Céline Dumerc leading the way for Bourges Basket

Hamchetou Maiga Ba (left) has played in France during her career and quickly made herself feel at home with the first 4 points of the game for Gambrinus.

Gambrinus had the better of the opening spell and led (9-3).

Céline Dumerc was the only player from Bourges able to hit the target.

She did this in style with three three-pointers as she single-handedly kept Bourges in touch with their guests (9-11).

The two teams continued their exchange of baskets with Maiga Ba and Petra Kulichová very active for the guests and Katarina Manic for Bourges.

Emméline Ndongue (right in picture) gave Bourges the advantage briefly for the first time in the match after nine minutes of play when she completed a three-point play with a free-throw (19-17).

Manic was to split a pair of free-throws to finish the scoring in the first period and keep Bourges in front (20-19).

The lead changed several times during a lively spell by both sides during the first five minutes of the second period.

Bourges managed to increase their advantage thanks to the unselfish work of Cathy Melain and the scoring of Dumerc (31-26).

A switch to a standard zone by Gambrinus put a stop to Bourges Basket's progress.

Tamika Whitmore finally opened her account. Then some excellent shooting from Zuzana Zirková with 7 points enabled Gambrinus to level the score (35-35) at the interval.

When Dumerc (left) is on fire there is just no stopping her.

She was everywhere but Gambrinus had Zirková who also was all over the court as she kept Gambrinus on the tail of Bourges.

Gambrinus finally regained the lead with Hana Horakova stepping up offensively (46-45) after 26 minutes of play.

Scoring became more difficult as either side cancelled each other out defensively for the last four minutes of the third period.

All the same Gambrinus stayed ahead going into the last quarter (49-47).

Gambrinus went to work collectively at the start of the final period.

They stretched their advantage as Zirková and Horakova were hitting three-pointers and Eva Vitecková adding 2 points (57-50) with only Dumerc scoring for Bourges.

Gambrinus continued to move the ball around with different players scoring while Bourges with Dumerc in foul problems had to rely on Ndongue working in the paint for points.

Ndongue threw herself into the battle and was rewarded with a series of points and with the three-point shooting of Manic and Melain. The two teams were tied once again (61-61) with three minutes remaining.

Ndongue then put Bourges back in front after taking a nice pass from Melain and driving to the basket. She was fouled in the process and also converted the free-throw with the game entering money-time (64-61).

The remaining points came from the free-throw line with Bourges holding on to win (67-62).

Dumerc finished the game with 23 points and dished out 4 assists to lead the Bourges attack.

Manic added 17 while Ndongue added 15 points and 9 rebounds. Melain dished out 7 assists.

For Gambrinus Zirková had 19 points while Maiga Ba scored 15 points.

Halcon Avenida vs. MiZo Pécs 2010

UMMC Ekaterinburg vs. Fenerbahce

Spartak Moscow Region vs. Ros Casares

Bourges Basket vs. MKB Euroleasing

EuroLeague Women 2008-2009 scores from the eighth-final first leg:

Bourges Basket 72-57 Gambrinus

Umana Reyer 60-61 MiZo Pécs 2010

Halcon Avenida 80-69 CSKA Moscow

MKB Euroleasing 81-58 Wisla Can-Pack

UMMC Ekaterinburg 91-61 TEO Vilnius

Spartak Moscow Region 102-86 ZVVZ USK Prague

Ros Casares 98-53 Broker Kosice

Fenerbahce 87-83 LOTOS PKO BP

EuroLeague Women 2008-2009 scores from the eighth-final second leg:

Gambrinus 61-59 Bourges Basket

MiZo Pécs 2010 65-57 Umana Reyer (MiZo Pécs 2010 win 2:0)

CSKA Moscow 96-64 Halcon Avenida

Wisla Can-Pack 52-39 MKB Euroleasing

TEO Vilnius 46-69 UMMC Ekaterinburg (UMMC Ekaterinburg win 2:0)

ZVVZ USK Prague 78-92 Spartak Moscow Region (Spartak Moscow Region win 2:0)

Broker Kosice 48-81 Ros Casares (Ros Casares win 2:0)

LOTOS PKO BP 63-60 Fenerbahce

EuroLeague Women 2008-2009 scores from the eighth-final third leg leg:

Bourges Basket 67-62 Gambrinus (Bourges Basket win 2:1)

Halcon Avenida 83-74 CSKA Moscow (Halcon Avenida win 2:1)

MKB Euroleasing 79-70 Wisla Can-Pack (MKB Euroleasing win 2:1)

Fenerbahce 79-76 LOTOS PKO BP (Fenerbahce win 2:1)