EuroLeague Week 8 Update

Dec. 13, 2012

Leader of the Pack
Tina Charles (29.8 ppg., 13.8 rpg.) not only has won four EuroLeague Player of the Week honors this season, she leads all scorers and rebounders so far this season. In fact, the closest to her statistically are Americans Shenise Johnson, who is scoring at a clip of 21.1 ppg. for UE Sopron and Nadezhda's DeWanna Bonner, who is averaging 11.1 ppg. Charles also ranks first for field goal percentage with 63.5 percent (66-104 FGs), while the No. 2 shooter in the league is currently Candice Dupree at an even 60.0 percent (48-80 FGs). Further, her five double-doubles in as many games ranks at the top of the list for double-doubles, with Kia Vaughn and Bonner sitting at No. 2 with four each.

Charles is Most Definitely in Charge as Wisla Surge in Rankings
Tina Charles packed another double-double punch with 33 points and 15 caroms to lead her Wisla Can-Pack Krakow (4-3) squad to a tight 68-64 victory over Bourges Basket (5-2). Since arriving in Poland, Charles has done nothing but help turn around a squad that was winless and in her five contests Wisla has posted a 4-1 record and if the club continues its winning streak of four straight games, it will position itself for good playoff spot.

“The most important thing is that we won that hard game,” said Alana Beard, who added 20 points in the win. “Like the coach said - there are some things we must improve and we will do that. Thanks to my team mates and thanks to the fans." 

Wisla had the visitors on the ropes, 21-12, after the first quarter and upped its margin by one at halftime, 42-32. Bourges clipped its deficit to 56-51 by the end of the third quarter. The fourth quarter was tight and neither squad seemed to be able to get into a rhythm as Wisla came away with a fourth-straight win in front of its home crowd.

CCC Polkowice’s Playoff Hopes Dimish
Despite receiving 18 points, six rebounds and six assists from Euro rookie Nnemkadi Ogwumike, CCC Polkowice (2-5) dropped a heart-breaker to host USO Mondeville (4-3). With the loss, the Polish side’s playoff hopes are quickly fading as it has now dropped to a tie for fifth place in Group C.

With the game tied at 63-all and 1:52 to play, CCC missed three straight shots in a single possession during which time the clock ticked down to just 44 seconds. USO missed its next try, but CCC was unable to secure the board and Amanda Lassiter put in the final points of the game with 15 seconds to play. Time was not on the Polish team’s side as the clock wound down and USO Mondeville earned the victory. 

Lassiter top-scored for Mondeville and finished the game with 18 points, six boards, four assists and a pair of steals.

Fowles, Whalen Cruise to Easy Win
Galatasaray (5-1), which lost a squeaker last week to the still-undefeated UMMC Ekaterinburg (6-0) had a much easier time in its game this week. Gala, which received four points and two assists from Lindsay Whalen in its game-opening 21-0 run, was strong from start to finish in its 77-50 victory over Novi Zagreb (1-6). Sylvia Fowles had 12 points, three boards, three steals and three blocked shots; while Whalen capped the game with eight points and eight assists. Spain’s Sancho Lyttle led her side in the victory with 16 points and 13 rebounds, while Sandra Mandir top-scored for Zagreb with 6 points.

Candice Dupree Powers Spartak Past Tarsus
DeLisha Milton-Jones and Tarsus (1-6) nearly pulled off an improbable upset over Spartak Moscow Region Vidnoje (6-1), but Spartak pulled ahead 80-79 with 37 seconds to go on a Candice Dupree jumper and held off the hosts for the 83-79 victory. Spartak’s Elisa Aguilar made a free throw with 18 seconds to go to up her side’s edge to two points and Dupree sealed the deal with a pair from the line with seven seconds to play.

Dupree’s 27 points and 10 rebounds led Spartak, while Seimone Augustus contributed 10 points and four assists in the win.  Milton-Jones also scored a double-double with 14 points and 13 boards, while Danielle Robinson scored a team-high 26 points in the loss.

All in the Famila
A 26-point, 10-rebound performance from former OSU standout and USA Basketball gold medalist Jantel Lavender helped propel Famila Schio (6-1) to a 66-62 victory over Municipal Targoviste (3-4) as the Italian side remained in the top spot in Group B. Monique Currie, also a gold medalist with USA Basketball junior teams, scored 14 points in her team’s losing effort.

In Other Games …
BK Imos Brno (2-5) picked up its second win of the season with an 86-61 rout of Uni Gyor (3-4), behind a sizzling 69.2 percent (9-13 3pt FGs) from beyond the arc.  The USA’s Nicole Ohlde contriubuted nine points and seven rebounds in the victory for her Czech club, while Chay Shegog had seven points and six boards for the Hungarian side …  ZVVZ USK Prague (3-4) moved alone into the No. 4 spot in Group C after a 78-65 victory over Perfumerias Avenida (2-5). Bolstering the Czech team to victory was a 21-point effort from Rebekkah Brunson, along with 10 points and as many rebounds from Kia Vaughn … Former DePaul standout Allie Quigley scored a game-high 21 points to lead Good Angels Kosice (5-2) to a 77-67 romp over Nadezhda (4-3) and move into the No. 2 position in Group B … UE Sopron (2-6) pulled out its second win of the season with a 74-55 victory over the still-winless Arras (0-7).

2012-13 EuroLeague Standings: Week 8