We took the lead in the finals

Sopron Basket – ALUINVENT-DVTK Miskolc 74-60 (18-13, 17-11, 18-15, 21-21)
Sopron, 950 néző

Sopron Basket: Turner 16/3, Casas 18/6, Crvendakic -, Dupree 15, Határ 7 Sub.: Zahui 13, Dubei 5/3

ALUINVENT-DVTK Miskolc: Medgyessy -, Walker-Kimbrough 10/3, Skoric 22/6, Putnina 4, Mokango 18 Sub.: Szabó F. 6/3, Kiss A. -, Kányási V. -, Zele D. -, Szűcs R. -

Stats

FGS: 27/65 42% ill. 19/57 33%

3-PTS: 4/14 29% ill. 4/13 31%

FTS: 16/19 84% ill. 18/22 82%

Rebounds: 46 (Zahui 11) ill. 34 (Skoric 10)

Assists: 15 (Turner, Casas 5-5) ill. 14

Steals: 8 (Turner 3) ill. 8

Turnovers: 15 ill. 16

Faults: 16 ill. 19

Candice opened the game with a close double, to which she then added another one. With two successful free throws by Queralt we were ahead by six (2nd minute 6-0). After that Mokango also scored the first points for the away side from the line, to which Yvonne immediately answered back from mid-range, and then after a nice lay-up from Queralt László Cziczás called his first time-out in the game (4th minute 10-2). When the teams came back on court from the break Betti converted two shots from the foul line, increasing our lead into the double-digit region, but then Walker-Kimbrough quickly scored five at the other end. However, they couldn't keep their come-back effort alive for long, Betti made a double off a soin move under the rim, to which Yvonne added two more points. After that Skoric scored four in quick succession, forcing Roberto Iniguez to call his first time-out in the game (16-11). Queralt came up with a mid-range double after the short pause, to which Mokango answered back with a hook shot under the rim, setting the score at a five-point Sopron advantage at the end of the first period (10th minute 18-13).


A triple by Queralt got the second quarter going, while Skoric made two from the line. After that Candice made an easy bucket off an assist by Queralt, to which then Amanda added another one (12th minute 25-15). After that Mokango made a lay-up, to which Debi answered back from downtown with a demoralising long shot. With a free throw by Betti we went further ahead, and then Debi added two more points from the line to our total before Skoric buried a triple at the other end (18th minute 31-20). After that DVTK's Serbian added a close double from inside the paint as well, but then Queralt was able to answer with a buzzer-beating double forcing Miskolc's next time-out (35-22). After that Skoric managed to score again, setting the score for half-time (20th minute 35-24).


The second half began with two free throws by Mokango, to which Amanda answered back with a bucket from inside the paint (22nd minute 37-26). After that Walker-Kimbrough scored for DVTK, and then Yvonne buried both shots from the foul line, to which Amanda added one of two from the free throw line. Then Queralt scored five quickly, to which Skoric answered back with an open lay-up. However, Amanda was also able to make one for two points, but Mokango had tha last say in the period with one of two free throws made (30th minute 53-39).


Yvonne opened the final stage of the game with a corner three, to which Szabó answered back likewise, and then Skoric added another one (32nd minute 56-45). The threes kept coming, this time it was Amanda's turn to drain one of those, and then Mokango made two of two from the line. A little while later Candice beat her defender under the rim for two, and then Skoric made a lay-up at the other end (64-51). After that it was our American Power Forward who scored four more consecutive points, to which Putnina answered back with two free throws. When Mokang brought DVTK closer to us with a double, Roberto Iniguez called a time-out to talk things over with his team at the bench (69-58). When the teams came back on court Putnina scored from mid-range, to which Yvonne answered back with a three-point play. And then she handed an assist to Queralt to finish the game (40th minute 74-60).

Roberto Iniguez: It was a terrible game! If I had to watch it on TV, I would switch channels! If the referees are in the center of attention in a game, we cannot talk about basketball. You have to let the players play, and not just blow the whistle on every little contact. It is a part of today's basketball. I am also getting bored with what they are doing to Betti. They make it impossible for her to play every game! She doesn't have a chance to play, when it is coming from everywhere that she is one of the most important players of the national team. "She is very tall", the referee replies. I don't know what that means. I want to congratulate Miskolc fans, they were fantastic! They helped their team a lot. Our fans should understand that we need help the most when we are having a hard time. However, in those times they just sit in the chair as if they were in the theater, and expect change from the team. That should work the other way around! We are one team - we say, but I only feel like it, when we are winning! Where is unity, when we have problems? Miskolc fans showed what supporting your team really means!

Yvonne Turner: We got comfortable in the game after a good start. We have to prepare ourselves mentally for Miskolc's home court.

László Cziczás: Congratulations to Sopron, it was a great experience to play in the gym where two weeks ago, world class players were playing. We couldn't play the right way at the beginning, but we'll try to fix that. We are happy to be here in the finals!

Angelika Kiss: We didn't start with the right intensity. If we can change that, we could play a tighter game at home.