Geraldine Robert and Shala Crawford played starring roles as ESB Lille Metropole returned to EuroLeague Women action with a bang by thrashing MKB Euroleasing 87-67 in Group A on Wednesday.

The northerners have not played in Europe's premier competition for the past four years, but it was as if they had never been away as they powered past the Hungarian visitors.

Robert finished with 22 points and seven rebounds while center Crawford, a summer signing from Istanbul, ended the match with 21 points.

The hosts were always in control, and built up a 17-point lead (31-14) by the end of the first quarter.

MKB did well to close the gap to 43-38 by half-time, but it was one-way traffic after the interval as the French side pulled clear.

Small forward Olexandra Gorbunova was the visitors' top scorer with 15 points and nine rebounds, while Ljubica Drljaca added 13 points for Lille Metropole.

Norbert SZEKELY (Sopron):

"Congratulations to Villeneuve d'Ascq. I was surprised by their first quarter. We tried everything in defense, zone and man to man."

Abdou N'Diaye (ESBVA-LM):

" We had different strategies in defense. We knew Sopron from videos. It's the best peformance of our team since the beginning of the season. We had a good start and we managed to have enthusiastic mind. It was a great team performance."

Kathy Wambe (ESBVA-LM):

"We said before the game that we had nothing to lose. This victory gives us more confidence for the season."