Rivas Strike Early In Midnight Showdown

Queralt Casas scored a personal season-best 13 points

Rivas Ecopolis wasted little time in getting to work in their specially rescheduled midnight EuroLeague Women showdown with Uni Györ after a scorching first quarter facilitated an excellent 84-65 Group A win.

With the tip-off moved to the early hours of the morning to limit the impact of a national strike in Spain, it was the Györ defence which downed tools during the first period when they fell 24-8 behind.

Caught napping early and also when handling the ball, the visitors struggled when the hosts applied excellent defensive pressure on their opponent .

Györ was always on the back-foot as they tried to rectify their sticky start, and whilst they registered a 12-2 run during the second quarter to briefly make it a one-shot game at 30-28, it was to be as close as they would get to a recovery.

The hosts pulled away again and enjoyed far too many fast break opportunities not to surge back ahead as Queralt Casas scored to put them 63-48 in front by the end of the third quarter.

And, Casas posted the best performance of her fledgling EuroLeague Women career with 13 points and three steals as the Spanish side coasted over the finishing line against their weary opponent.

Ziomara Morrison also impressed with 15 points in 17 minutes, as did in-form Anna Cruz who top scored with 19 points.

Latvian center Ieva Kublina had a double-double 14 points and 10 rebounds in defeat.

Quotes Rivas Ecopolis vs. Uni Györ

Uni Györ head coach Akos Fuzy:
"I don't think playing at a late hour was a problem. We could have done better, we were having troubles defending their guards at the beginning of the game, we played a bad defense over pick and rolls. Then we came back and were able to be just two points behind, but we had some troubles with rebounding. We tried in the second half, but committed so many mistakes that punished us a lot."

Uni Györ player Chalysa Shegog:
"I don't blame our game on the hour. It was the same for both teams, what I think was the key for losing this game it is all about defense, we played bad."

Rivas Ecopolis head coach Miguel Mendez:
"Most important thing tonight was getting the win. And luckily, we did that without suffering physical problems, which was a big concern for me as we are playing another domestic game in less than 48 hours. The arena was spectacular, I have no words to acknowledge what we lived tonight, for the people who, in these hard times, are still supporting the team. We are putting a lot of work into our project and we have to say thank you to them for being here."

Rivas Ecopolis player Oleksandra Kurasova:
"We had a good second quarter, before half-time. Then they came back a little, but we didn't let them rebound easily, we made them had troubles with defense. It was so important for us to win this game. I don't think playing this late has affected one team more than the other."

Quotes Rivas Ecopolis vs. Uni Györ

Uni Györ head coach Akos Fuzy:
"I don't think playing at a late hour was a problem. We could have done better, we were having troubles defending their guards at the beginning of the game, we played a bad defense over pick and rolls. Then we came back and were able to be just two points behind, but we had some troubles with rebounding. We tried in the second half, but committed so many mistakes that punished us a lot."

Uni Györ player Chalysa Shegog:
"I don't blame our game on the hour. It was the same for both teams, what I think was the key for losing this game it is all about defense, we played bad."

Rivas Ecopolis head coach Miguel Mendez:
"Most important thing tonight was getting the win. And luckily, we did that without suffering physical problems, which was a big concern for me as we are playing another domestic game in less than 48 hours. The arena was spectacular, I have no words to acknowledge what we lived tonight, for the people who, in these hard times, are still supporting the team. We are putting a lot of work into our project and we have to say thank you to them for being here."

Rivas Ecopolis player Oleksandra Kurasova:
"We had a good second quarter, before half-time. Then they came back a little, but we didn't let them rebound easily, we made them had troubles with defense. It was so important for us to win this game. I don't think playing this late has affected one team more than the other."