Kosit 2013 Kosice coach Vladimir Karnay believed that the absence of star center Janel McCarville cost them dearly in their narrow 62-58 defeat to US Valenciennes.

Without the injured McCarville, Kosit struggled and despite 22 points from Luisa Michulkova, they slipped to their third loss in EuroLeague Women group C.

"We did not have much luck at all but that is European basketball," said Karnay.

"Valenciennes punished every single mistake that our players made and we missed a couple of shoots from good positions.

"They came back into the game in the second half and I  have not seen a team in the EuroLeague that made such a high percentage of three-pointers until now.

"The absence of McCarville made it difficult for us and I'm sure we could have won the game if she had been playing.

"She is a 20-point player and we did not have anyone to replace her."

Guard Michulkova echoed the sentiments of her coach and believed the game would have had a different outcome if McCarville had been involved.

"It was a  difficult game. We led after the first half but we did not stop them after the break," she said.

"Valenciennes took the lead in third quarter and it is very hard to take something from the game when the opponent has control.

"I think we definitely could have won if Janel (McCarville) had been playing."