Defending champions Spartak Moscow Region got a morale-boosting win in EuroLeague Women Group C after bagging an 85-76 win in their hotly anticipated clash with leaders Gambrinus Brno.
 
Brno came into the clash with form on their side having stormed to three wins in their opening three games, but the 2006 champions were powerless to prevent their successors, who were 2-1 at the start of the day, bouncing back from a slow start to take the tie.

Diana Taurasi did the bulk of the damage, claiming 32 points and six rebounds, while Lauren Jackson added 18 and six.
 
Zuzana Zirkova led the opposition charge, sinking 18 points and pulling down seven rebounds, but Brno never recovered from a second-period slump and suffered their first loss of the campaign.

The Czechs had taken off to a fine start, leading 23-17 at the end of the first quarter, but the next 10 minutes were miserable.

Shipping 23 points in return for 10 scored saw them go into the half-time break trailing 46-33, and a 20-19 loss in the third period took the score to 66-52 going into the last quarter.

Brno rallied to take the last 25-19, but the damage had already been done by the second-session slip.
 
The result, Spartak`s third win in four, brings the Russians level on points with Brno.