We managed to keep up with the Russian giant

Sopron Basket - Dynamo Kursk 58-65 (12-16, 20-15, 14-15, 12-19)
Sopron

Sopron Basket: Fegyverneky 9, Turner 12/6, Crvendakic 2, Zahui 15/6, Dupree 7 Sub.: Salvadores 10/3, Dubei 3/3, Határ -

Dinamo Kurszk: Cruz 3, Xargay 8, Petrovic 3, Stewart 5, Charles 31/6 Sub.: Kirillova 7/3, Vidmer 4, Prince 4, Anokina -

Statisztika

FGS: 21/63 33% ill. 22/55 40%

3-PTS: 6/22 27% ill. 3/10 30%

FTS: 10/12 83% ill. 18/22 82%

Rebounds: 35 (Zahui 12) ill. 43 (Charles 12)

Assists: 6 (Turner 3) ill. 11 (Xargay 3)

Steals: 8 (Crvendakic 3) ill. 7 (Charles 4)

Turnovers: 11 ill. 16

Faults: 22 ill. 18

EFF: 54 (Zahui 22) ill. 75 (Charles 41)

The away side got the ball at the tip-off, but the first attacks were unsuccessful for both teams. The first basket of the game was scored by Xargay, and then Charles also managed to score (2nd minute 0-4). Following Xargay's free throw we also hit our first, Candice came up with a three-point play. Approaching the middle of the quarter the game didn't change, Kursk increased their lead while we were still unable to score, forcing head coach Roberto Iniguez to call a time-out (5th minute 3-9). After the break we made some good plays on defense and Amanda converted three shots from the line, but thanks to a triple by Tina Charles the difference remained the same (8th minute 6-12). By the end of the period we came as close to the Russians as two points, but then Charles came up with a shot for two to double her team's advantage (10th minute 12-16).


The second quarter began with a triple by Kirillova, and on the home side Angela's free throws marked the first points. Debi answered to Prince's double with a nice shot from downtown having a defender all over her. The next period was dominated by Kursk again, and then Angela came up with a triple. We have performed several excellent plays on defense afterwards forcing the away team's coach to call a time-out (16th minute 22-26). The short break couldn't stop us, first Amanda made the spectators jump from their seats with a triple, and then, after Yvonne's lay-up the advantage was finally ours (27-26)! The difference hasn't changed until half-time, we went on our break in possession of a single-point lead (20th minute 32-31).


Breanna Stewart's mid-range double opened the third quarter, then Zsófi made us happy with a great block. Both teams were working well in the backcourt in the initial minutes, and Kursk were the first to crack the opposition's defense, with a double by Vidmer, to which Charles added another one, forcing Roberto Iniguez's next time-out (24th minute 32-37). The American post-player kept delivering, but after another three-point play by her Candice finally made our first basket of the quarter. Later Yvonne also hit one, but we were still unable to stop Charles, who drew several fouls, and flawlessly converted the free throws awarded afterwards. However, te difference didn't increase, what's more, after the doubles by Amanda and Zsófi we managed to come closer to the opposing side, and with another shot fro two by Aleks we were only down by a single point, which made Lucas Mondelo call a time-out (28th minute 42-43). The short pause couldn't break our momentum either, and by the end of the period we tied the game up (30th minute 46-46).


Xargay's free throws gave the lead back to Kursk, but Candice was able to answer back with a double of her own. Then, after yet another double by Tina Charles neither side was able to score for a while. This silence was broken by Angela's double, that tied the game back up. Then Kursk pulled themselves together and quickly got into a seven-point lead (35th minute 50-57). Following the break Charles answered to Zsófi's mid-range double with two shots from the line, and then with another double she increased her team's lead even further forcing Roberto Iniguez to call a time-out (38th minute 52-61). To a triple by Charles Yvonne responded with a three of her own, and the Zsófi kept our hopes alive with a three-point play. The final score was set with a foul shot by Xargay, after Zsófi got her fifth personal foul called on herself (40th minute 58-65).

Roberto Iniguez: Congratulations to our guests, they were reading the game very well, took advantage of their strengths, especially in the fourth quarter. We got into a 5-7 point deficit many times, from where it is very hard to bounce back in a game like this, but we have done it multiple times, and for that I am proud of the team! We didn't shoot well enough, and on offense we sometimes lacked the necessary aggressivity. I understand that it is hard, because defense against Kursk requires a great deal of energy. I am satisfied! We are still on the right way. There will be big competition for the spots behind Kursk in the group. We'll keep working!

Lucas Mondelo.: We knew that it will be hard to play at one of the best teams' home court in the group. Defense was key today. We ran a lot, and tried to get the ball into the paint for the post players, where we were in advantage. We managed to make many free throws out of these situations. Congratulations to Sopron, they played very well!

Zsófia Fegyverneky: Congratulations to Kursk, they did a very good job! We knew that we needed an almost perfect performance today, but we missed some of the extra shots that is crucial to win a game like this. I hope that in spite of the defeat everybody enjoyed the game!

Tina Charles : It was a game with great intensity, we knew we'll have a difficult job to do here against a Sopron side who were playing agressively.