Bourges Basket remained hot on the heels of EuroLeague Women Group B leaders Gambrinus Sika Brno with a convincing triumph at UMMC Ekaterinburg on Thursday.
The French giants exploded for 25 first-quarter points while holding their hosts to a mere 11 as they gave themselves a perfect launchpad for a 74-55 triumph.
Bourges improved to six wins and just two defeats, leaving them a game behind Czech high-fliers Gambrinus, while UMMC have fallen to 4-4.
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Laia Palau | ||||
UMMC played better in the second quarter and clawed their way back to trail 38-27, but Bourges seized the initiative before half-time and led 42-27.
After the sides emerged from the changing rooms, a confident Bourges maintained a lead of double digits and won by 19.
"Bourges played excellently from the very beginning, but I can't say this about our team," said Zoran Visic, the head coach of UMMC.
"We began the game terribly. We lost it at the beginning and this score difference played a decisive role in the whole game."
When the dust had settled, the UMMC stat sheet was a tale of horror.
The team had shot just 21 of 56 (37.5%) from the field, including two of 10 (20%) from behind the arc.
They were also awful at the free throw line, sinking just 11 of 19 attempts (57.9%).
Perhaps the most glaring statistic of all, however, were the 21 turnovers committed by the Russian team - five by their French international Audrey Sauret-Gillespie.
Bourges were a far more efficient 30 of 63 (47.6%) from the field, but they also had their woes at the line making just nine of 20 (45%).
Laia Palau had 15 points and five boards for Bourges.