Pecs finally gave the home fans what they wanted at this weekend’s EuroLeague Women Final Four, namely a win. It may not have been the title game, but the 5,000 fans in attendance were treated to a fantastic game of basketball and of course, a victory.

The game was fast and furious throughout as both teams shrugged off their offensive woes from Friday’s semi-finals. Dalma Ivanyi in particular was red hot in the first half, scoring 9 points in each of the first 2 quarters. However, Pecs got the help they so badly needed putting the ball in the basket, and Svitlana Boiko and Albena Branzova really stepped up in the fourth quarter to lead the home side to victory.

		Romana Hamzova

It was Brno who began the game with the initiative. They shot 64% from the floor in the first quarter and kept their noses just ahead of Pecs, 19:25 after 10 minutes.

Into the second, Brno stayed in control and 5 consecutive points from Eva Viteckova saw them establish a 10-point lead, 22:32. However, Ivanyi was on hand to put her team right back in contention. She scored 6 points in a row, including 2 breakaway lay-ups, and Pecs wrested the momentum from Brno.

It was Erzsébet Kotlikné who sent the fans into a frenzy as her inside move gave Pecs the lead for the first time in the game, Ivanyi followed it up with an offensive rebound and put-back, and Pecs took a 40:37 lead into halftime.

Pecs retained the ascendancy after the break  and 2 consecutive baskets from Australian guard Allison Tranquilli gave them a 50:45 lead near the end of the third period. The Brno answer was immediate and 2 free throws from Eva Viteckova and a basket and foul by Romana Hamzova tied the game. Alena Kovacova added a basket and free throw and Brno had a 52:53 lead at the end of the third.

It was Boiko who sparked Pecs in the early going of the 4th quarter as she connected on 3 jump shots to keep her team close. However, it was Dalma Ivanyi who came up with the decisive 2 plays of the game. After a great first half she was quiet for the majority of the second 20 minutes, hitting just 1 of her final 9 field goal attempts. Her 2 free throws, followed by a steal, drive and basket gave Pecs the lead for good, 64:61.

		At last Pecs had reason to celebrate

Beres added another basket to make the score 66:61 and Brno could not reply as Hamzova missed 2 three-pointers. Branzova put the icing on the cake, hitting a three-pointer with 44 seconds on the clock to put the victory beyond doubt.

Ivanyi was the heart and soul of the Pecs effort and finished the contest with 22 points, 7 rebounds (a team high) and 7 steals. Boiko scored 6 of her 12 points in the last quarter while Branzova also scored 12 and Tranquilli 14.

Machova led Brno with 15 points and Viteckova scored 14.