There's No Stopping Spartak with Fowles & Taurasi on the Court

Nov. 19, 2009 - 2009-10 EuroLeague Results & Standings

Ok, we get it. We're beginning to sound like a broken record. But only because Diana Taurasi continues to do what she does best: rock the court. After closing the WNBA season as the league's top scorer and MVP, leading Phoenix to its second title and collecting Finals MVP honors, she doesn't seem to be stopping anytime soon. Currently averaging 23.0 ppg., Taurasi has had a stranglehold on the 2009-10 EuroLeague scoring honors the first four weeks of the season. Oh yeah, she's also No. 10 in free throw percentage (.889) and No. 13 in assists (4.0 apg.), while grabbing a respectable 5.0 rpg. If she keeps this up and Spartak continues to march to their fourth consecutive EuroLeague title, Taurasi just might have to expand her trophy case. Of course, she can't get where she is without some great teammates around her, like USA gold medalist Sylvia Fowles. Averaging fewer than 27 minutes a game, Fowles is posting pretty good numbers herself: 15.7 ppg., 9.3 rpg. and 1.0 bpg.

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How USA National Team Members & Hopefuls Stack Up
No, we haven't forgotten about the rest of the USA National Team members and hopefuls filling up the stats columns across Europe. After scoring just four points in her season opener, Shameka Christon is averaging 12.8 ppg., 4.0 rpg. and 2.3 apg. for a 2-2 Lotos Gdynia club that's currently tied for third in Group D standings. Candice Dupree has lit up the scoreboard for Good Angels Kosice, averaging a EuroLeague second-best 21.8 ppg. and third-best 11.0 rpg., and has been complimented by Angel McCoughtry's 16.0 ppg., 6.5 rpg. and 2.5 apg. Alas, the duo of Americans have been pulling the lion's share for Kosice in the stats department and are in need of some assistance as the Slovakian club is just 1-3. UMMC Ekaterinburg has been bolstered this season by Asjha Jones (8.3 ppg., 6.0 rpg. 2.3 apg.) and Cappie Pondexter (13.5 ppg., 5.0 rpg., 3.5 apg.) en route to a 3-1 mark. Crystal Langhorne's 18.0 ppg. and 9.3 rpg. has Rivas Ecopolis excited and on a 4-0 streak to start the season; despite 16.0 ppg. and 4.8 apg. from Renee Montgomery, TEO Vilnius is still searching for its first win; while Lindsay Whalen's 13.0 ppg., 5.8 rpg. and 2.8 apg. has helped ZVVZ USK Prague post an even 2-2 mark to start the season in the wide-open Group C.

We would be remiss if we failed to mention DeLisha Milton-Jones, a two-time Olympic and two-time World Championship gold medalist, and Taj McWilliams-Franklin, a member of the '98 USA World Championship gold medal squad. Playing again for Ros Casares in Valencia, Spain, Milton-Jones has helped Ros to a 3-1 slate and into a three-way tie for the top of the Group A leader board. She is currently averaging a team-best and Euroleague third-best 21.3 ppg., while adding 5.3 rpg. and 2.3 apg. In the Czech Republic, the 39-year-old McWilliams-Franklin is still in fine form, averaging 13.3 ppg. and 7.5 rpg. for a Frisco Sika Brno team that's currently 3-1 in Group D.

This Week's Games
Group A
There's a three-way tie at the top of Group A with Ros Casaris, Galatasary and UMMC Ekaterinburg all holding 3-1 records. After falling in its first two games, Cras Basket Taranto (2-2) has won the last two, including a David and Goliath victory over Ros Casares this week. At 1-3 TTT Riga is still in the hunt for a playoff spot, however, TEO Vilnius (0-4) is still winless and its hopes of advancing past the qualifying round continue to fade.

TTT Riga 74, TEO Vilnius 68
In a battle of winless teams, TTT Riga picked up its first victory of the season over TEO Vilnius 74-68, despite TEO receiving 22 points and 10 assists from Montgomery. Americans Lisa Willis and Lyndra Weaver powered TTT Riga with 23 and 21 points, respectively. TEO also got 18 points from Serbian Milka Bjelica.

UMMC Ekaterinburg 69, Galatasary 54
Owning a 37-25 lead at the break, UMMC Ekaterinburg went on to down previously undefeated Galatasary 69-54. Pondexter scored 15 points and dished out four assists, Jones had seven points, Russian Maria Stepanova led all scorers with 18 points and Poland's Agnieszka ‘Biba' Bibrzycka posted a double-double of 10 points and 11 rebounds for UMMC; while Belarussian Yelena Leuchanka and Sophia Young each scored 14 points in the Turkish club's loss.

Cras Basket Taranto 78, Ros Casares 69
Cras Basket Taranto evened up its record and handed Ros Casares its first defeat of the season, 78-69. Cras went up 24-17 after the first quarter, but the visitors whittled away at the gap and by halftime the hosts' lead was down to 35-33. Striking immediately in the second half, the Italian squad ripped off 10 unanswered points in an eventual 25-3 run that left Cras in the lead 60-36 with 15:25 to play in the game. By the end of the quarter the score was still lopsided, 65-47 and in the fourth Ros attempted to mount a comeback run but the deficit was too much to overcome.

Former USA National Team member Rebbekah Brunson had 23 points and 12 rebounds for the Italian team. -This is an extraordinary achievement," Brunson told FIBA Europe. -I am proud of my team. Bringing together the game, the talent and experience, we managed to beat a strong opponent. Now we believe much more in our strength in EuroLeague."

-Too bad, we lost an important game," stated Ros' Milton-Jones, who posted 18 points in the loss. -They are really a good team. But it is our first loss, we'll make up soon because we want first place in the group of EuroLeague."

Group B
With a 4-0 mark, Wisla Can-Pack Krakow, the surprise late entry into this year's EuroLeague play, is the only undefeated team in Group B, which is still very wide open. Halcon Avenida Salamanca and Beretta Famila Schio both stand with identical 3-1 marks, MiZo Pécs 2010 and ESB Lille Metropole are struggling with 1-3 slates, while Gospic Croatia is still looking for its first victory with a 0-4 record. The top and bottom teams play each other next week, making it likely the Croatian squad will drop to 0-5. Interestingly, the two teams tied for second place will face each other and the two fourth place tied teams will also meet up. Following next week's games the Group B standings should start to shake out a little more.

MiZo Pécs 2010 74, Gospic Croatia 68
In a close battle that saw MiZo up by just two points with five minutes left, the visiting Hungarian squad held off Gospic Croatia down the stretch and came away with the 74-68 victory. Former USA National Team member Nicole Ohlde paced her team in the win with a double-double of 24 points and 12 boards, Hungarian Anna Vajda hit for 23 points and Allie Quigley posted 12 points and eight boards. Croatian Andja Jelavic led her side with 20 points, five rebounds and six assists, while Carla Thomas added 16 in the loss.

-We knew that Gospić was a new team in the EuroLeague, but we also knew that they are a dangerous team to play against and that it would be difficult to beat them," said Hungarian National Team mainstay Dalma Ivanyi, who had a 13-rebound, 10-assist double-double for MiZo. -Of course, this is an excellent team, but in their most important moments they missed their shots and we came to win.  This made us very happy.'

Wisla Can-Pack 83, Beretta Famila 72
Trailing 43-36 at halftime and 53-42 with 6:35 to play in the third quarter, Wisla Can-Pack went on a 13-2 tear, knotting the score at 55-all with 13:09 to play in the game. Less than a minute later Janel Burse hit a jumper to give Wisla the lead for good, 57-55. By the end of the period Wisla owned a slim 62-59 lead, but a 6-0 run to start the fourth gave the Polish team some breathing room and it went on to secure the 83-72 victory. Burse finished with a double-double of 16 points and 12 boards, while Spaniard Marta Fernandez had a double-double of 17 points and 13 assists. French national Nicole Antibe led Beretta-Famila with 17 points and eight rebounds, Congo native Mudju Ngoyisa scored 16 points and Marissa Coleman had 10 points.

Halcon Avenida 94, ESB Lille Metropole 53
Last year's second place finishers Halcon Avenida had an easy time this week, dropping the visiting ESB Lille Metropole squad 94-53. Sancho Lyttle poured in 31 points, grabbed 11 points and dished out five assists in the win that was also aided by LeCoe Williangham's 17-point, 11-rebound performance. Lady Comfort and Jolene Anderson led the French side with 15 and 11 points, respectively.

Group C
It's anyone's guess after four games as to who will advance out of Group C and in what order. With just one undefeated team, Rivas Ecópolis (4-0); there are three with 2-2 slates, including Bourges Basket, ZVVZ USK Prague and MKB Euroleasing Sopron; while Good Angels Kosice and KSSSE AZS-PWSZ Gorzow trail with 1-3 marks.

Rivas Ecópolis 70, MKB Euroleasing 63
EuroLeague newcomers Rivas Ecópolis continue to roll, this time with a 70-63 victory over 2009 Final Four participant MKB Euroleasing Sopron. In a tight race to the finish, Rivas entered the fourth quarter with a 47-46 edge over the hosts. The game remained close and with three minutes to play, the Rivas lead was three points, 61-58. Langhorne, who finished with 22 points and nine boards, scored the game's next four points to up the lead to 65-58 and the Hungarian team never recovered.

Good Angels Kosice 73, ZVVZ USK Prague 70
Dupree poured in 30 points and grabbed 13 rebounds to lead Kosice to its first victory, a close 73-70 win over visiting ZVVZ USK Prague. McCoughtry pitched in 13 points, eight rebounds, four assists and four steals in the win. Greek forward Evanthia Maltsi led the Czech club with 21 points, while Whalen finished with 17 and six rebounds.

KSSSE AZS-PWSZ Gorzow 49, Bourges Basket 39
KSSSE AZS-PWSZ Gorzow picked up its first win with a low-scoring 49-39 effort over the visiting Bourges Basket. Sidney Spencer led the Polish team with 12 points, while French national Endene Miyem posted 11 points and eight boards for the French club.

Group D
Despite the EuroLeague showing Frisco Sika Brno (3-1) at the top of the Group D board, it's Spartak Moscow Region's undefeated 3-0 record that places that team in the No. 1 position in our minds. But after those two teams, Lotos Gdynia and Fenerbache are sitting at 2-2, Tarbes GB has a 1-3 slate and Szeviép is winless at 0-3. Chances are, when Spartak and Szeviép do finally play their postponed contest, it's going to be Spartak walking away with the victory.

Frisco Sika Brno 83, Lotos Gdynia 72
McWilliams-Franklin had 22 points and seven rebounds to lead Brno to an 83-77 victory over the visiting Polish club Lotos Gdynia. With the score tied at 67-all McWilliams made back-to-back baskets and sank two free-throws to put Brno in front for good, 73-67. Serbian Ivana Matovic's 20 points and eight rebounds paced Lotos, while Alana Beard scored 15 points and Christon finished with 11.

Spartak Moscow Region 81, Tarbes GB 56
It was another rout for Spartak, which received a team-high 17 points and 11 rebounds from Fowles, while Taurasi added 13 points and Janel McCarville contributed 12 points and eight rebounds in a game that was well in hand, 27-6, after the first quarter as Spartak took Tarbes GB 81-56. Charde Houston was the French club's only double-digit scorer, posting 16 points and seven boards.

Fenerbahce 70, Szeviép 66
Behind 16 points from former USA National Team member Nicole Powell, Fenerbache, which led from wire-to-wire, got back on the winning track with a 70-66 victory over Szeviép in Szeged, Hungary.