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EuroLeague Women final without Bourges Basket Spartak Moscow are out to defend their EuroLeague Women crown. They defeated Ekaterinburg (78-68) to qualify for the final. Lauren Jackson scored a game-high 35 points for the winners. You will be able to watch this games by video on demand on here They will meet the hosts Gambrinus who came from behind to beat Bourges Basket (90-81) in overtime. Zuzanne Zirkova led the scoring for the home side with 28 points while Belinda Snell led the scoring for Bourges with 29 points. You will be able to watch this games by video on demand on here
Overtime was too much for Bourges BasketGambrinus trailed by 17 points after only eleven minutes of play but were able to take the game into overtime. Hana Machova was sent to the foul line in the dying seconds of regulation time and held her nerve to sink her free throws.Bourges were unable to pick themselves up to win while Gambrinus went on to dominate the fifth period and qualify for the EuroLeague Women final for the second time on home territory. Bourges Basket had the perfect start to the match with Belinda Snell and Céline Dumerc connecting from the land of many. There was no stopping Bourges during the first period as they dominated their hosts in all sectors of the game. When Dumerc finished the period with another trey (27-13), it appeared that Bourges had everything under control. Bourges increased their lead to 17 points (30-13) within one minutes into the second period. However Gambrinus went on the attack. With Hamchetou Maiga-Ba and Jana Vesela in particular good offensive form they reduced their deficit to 4 points (32-36).
Snell (left) was the only player to score during the first four minutes of the third quarter as the visitors from France, Bourges stretched their lead (47-34). Zuzanne Zirkova scored 7 points in the first half of the match. Suddenly she came finally to live in the latter part of the third period and added 9 points to her total as Gambrinus tried to reduce their handicap. Bourges maintained their advantage (61-51) going into the fourth quarter. The fourth period was all about risk as the hosts went about reducing their deficit. With five minutes remaining in regulation time Vita Vitechkova hit a three-pointer to bring Gambrinus to within 1 point (64-65). Dumerc hit the most spectular three-pointer of the evening with a shot beyond the NBA three-point line. Vitechkova was a lady on a mission and scored 4 more points either side of Snell three-pointer. Snell was to hit her 29th point of the game from beyond the arc to give Bourges a 4-point lead (74-70) with the game now in the last minute. Moments later Vitechkova came up with a three-point base line jumper to get the crowd on their feet as Bourges’ advantage was cut down to 2 points. Machova is a player with plenty of experience in money-time situations. She had only scored 1 point so far in the match and yet she turned things round in the last 24 seconds of regulation time. She first stripped the ball off Cathy Melain and fed the ball to Vitechkova who scored. Bourges went back in front from the charity stripes leaving Machova 11 seconds to come up with some magic. She went practically coast to coast and was fouled in the paint as she attempted to lay up. She hit her free-throws and the game was tied once again. Emméline Ndongue had the last chance for Bourges as she drove to the basket. But she slipped in the paint without getting a shot off and the chance was gone. The game went to overtime. The rest is history as Gambrinus controlled the fifth period to win the tie (90-81). EuroLeague Women semi-final Box Score
Spartak Moscow out to defend EuroLeague Women titleLauren Jackson came to live in the second period of Moscow Spartak against Ekaterinburg. She scored 13 points in a row to give the defending champions the lead (40-37). By the end of the first half of the match she had 19 points to her name as her side led (45-41).
A 7-0 start in the final period put an end to Ekaterinburg’s challenge (70-58) leaving the way open for the defending champions to qualify for the final again. While Jackson (left) will hog all the headlines, Tina Thompson was just as deadly as she poured in 24 points for the winners. Yelena Leuchanka led the scoring with 15 points for Ekaterinburg. Harrower finished with 9 points while Sandrine Gruda and Caroline Aubert, the French representatives in this match, had 8 and 2 points respectively. EuroLeague Women semi-final Box Score EuroLeague Women 2008 semi-final resultsUMMC Ekaterinburg 68-78 Spartak Moscow Region Gambrinus Brno 90-81 Bourges Basket Return from EuroLeague Women to "What's New" page Return from EuroLeague Women to Basketball EventsLook back at the EuroLeague Women quarter-final news EuroLeague women pictures are courtesy of FIBA Europe Date: 11 April 2008
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Cathy Melain put a stop to their opponents’ comeback with a trey. When Snell hit another trey on the buzzer, Bourges were back in control (42-34).
Ekaterinburg did not make things easy for the defending champions and went in front again (54-53) after a three-pointer by Kristi Harrower. Ekaterinburg were to lose the lead for good with just over two minutes to play with yet another Jackson score.
