US Valenciennes will be counting on Kristi Harrower to remain a steady hand at point guard as the French giants enter the elimination round of the EuroLeague Women.

USVO do not have the headline names of years gone by like center Ann Wauters but the vastly experienced Harrower has been a calming  influence and a big reason why USVO won nine of their 10 games in Group C.

"Our team is young," she said to PA Sport ahead of this week's eighth final play-off game against Famila Schio.

"But we finished first in the EuroLeague (Group C) and that shows you don't need superstars."

Harrower says most of the credit goes to coach Laurent Buffard.

"Our coach doesn't let us relax," she said.

"It's a professional approach and it's getting into our younger players."

Among the youngsters buying into Buffard's approach is the club's leading scorer, Sandrine Gruda.

USVO's 18-year-old center leads the team with an average of 13.4 points.

The team has such great balance that Harrower is the seventh leading scorer, averaging 9.9 points and 4.7 assists.

H

		“	Europe is probably the place I enjoy the most.	„
		Kristi Harrower

arrower is not a towering presence in the club's Salle du Hainaut arena as Wauters once was, but she is equally important.

She is a tenacious defender.

Teams that do not get back on defence pay the price because if they don't, she will always beat them in transition.

Harrower, who turns 30 in March, is hoping to play five more years.

When her career does finish, she will look fondly back on her time in France where she spent three seasons with Aix en Provence before moving to USVO this year.

The 1.62m playmaker has played in her native Australia, and in the WNBA with Phoenix and Minnesota, but Europe is her favourite stage.

"Europe is probably the place I enjoy the most," she said.

"When I say that, it's basketball wise. Living in a country that is non English is tough at times.

"I've become a better player here. The WNBA is good, but I don't play like I do here, like I am one of the leaders.

"I don't play like I'm one of the best points guards in the WNBA but here, probably, I've got more respect."