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.

		Laia Palau

Mudju Ngoyisa had 18 points and eight rebounds to pace the visitors. Bourges began the game on fire and scored 15 of the first 18 points, forcing the home side to call a timeout.

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.