Podrug Sees Pecs Home

Emilija Podrug poured in 23 points as MiZo Pecs held off a valiant effort by USO Mondeville to grab an important Group D victory in EuroLeague Women.

The Croatian forward was in inspired mood as the Hungarian hosts built on last week's success against TEO Vilnius to go to a 2-1 record and keep themselves on the coat-tails of fellow heavyweights Ros Casares and Dynamo Moscow in their pool.

Podrug was aided by Andrea Somogyi (14 points), the only other MiZo player to get into double figures.

USO, who had 17 points from American forward Lenae Williams as well as 10 points and seven rebounds from Caroline Aubert, remain without a win in three games this campaign.

It was the French side who led (19-16) at the end of the first quarter, but MiZo dabbed on the accelerator in the second, the rampant Podrug helping them to a six-point cushion (37-31) at half-time.

The Hungarians were up by as much as 12 points (51-39) in the third quarter, but a lay-up by Williams just before the buzzer gave USO some impetus going into the final 10 minutes.

No matter how hard they tried, the French side were always kept at arm's length by MiZo and Podrug kept the scoreboard ticking over for the hosts. With just over a minute left, it was 66-60 to MiZo and the visitors would have had some hope.

But home forward Anna Vajda's lay-up was the only scoring shot in the final 60 seconds as the Hungarians closed the game out.