Dynamo Finish Strong To Stun Faenza

Dynamo Moscow's Latvian connection came through again as Ieva Kublina and Anete Jekabsone-Zogota combined for 38 points in a 68-65 road victory against Germano Zama Faenza in Group D play of the EuroLeague Women.

In a rematch of last season's EuroCup final, the champions from Russia held Faenza without a point over the final 4:51 and used a 9-0 run to finish off the game and improve to 2-0. 

Trailing 65-59 with less than five minutes remaining, Alison Bales hit a three-pointer and then another basket to trim the margin to one point. 

Marlous Nieuwveen turned over the ball with 30 seconds left and Kublina knocked down a long jumper with 20 ticks remaining for a 66-65 lead. Jekabsone-Zogota added a lay-up for the final score-line.

Kublina paced Ainars Zvirgzdins's team with 24 points and eight rebounds while Jekabsone-Zogota collected 14 points, five rebounds and five assists. Bales chipped in 11 points - including the two big fourth quarter baskets.

Daliborka Jokic led the Italians with 22 points and 11 rebounds while Nieuwveen had 14 points and Maria Franchini 11 for Paolo Rossi's team, who dropped to 0-2. 

Dynamo jumped ahead 10-1 on the road only to see the hosts come back and trail just 15-14 after one period. The Russians used a 10-0 run to open a 25-16 gap but the game was even 29-29 at the break.

Trailing 41-36, Faenza began to find a good rhythm and went on a 15-3 surge to pull ahead 51-44. The score was 53-47 after three periods. 

Faenza still led 58-50 before Olga Firsova hit a basket and Kublina knocked down a three-pointer to make it 58-55. And the Italians again took the lead to six points - 65-59 before the Russians' final push.

Quotes Germano Zama Faenza vs. Dynamo

Ainars Zvirgzdins (Coach of Dynamo Moscow): This game was very difficult for us. This is only the second game in this Euroleague season, we have won the last Eurocup and the level of the Euroleague is much more higher than that competition. Our mission is to improve our level of play and to have most balance in the next phase of the competition.

Alison Marie Bales (Player of Dynamo Moscow): Faenza is a good team, many compliments for their game. For me this is a new experience in Dynamo Moscow and I think that our basket will improve when we have most understanding between us.

Paolo Rossi (Coach of Germano Zama Faenza): I’m pleased for our game, the level of Euroleague is high and very good team, while Dynamo Moscow, don’t forgive this. My team has started this game very bad, but in the prosecution of the game our level of play has raised high to let us to arrive in the last minute with three points in advance. But in those 60 seconds we have made same errors and Dynamo has take them to win. I’m sorry for the final result, but it’s important that my team have played a good basket.

Daliborka Jokic (Player of Germano Zama Faenza): I’m happy for my game, but I’m sorry for the defeat of my team. This was a good opportunity to win the first game in Euroleague, but, if we willl play the same basket in the next events, I’m sure that we will win some of the other games in this phase of the competition.