03.12.2008

Never-Say-Die Nadezhda Edge Bourges

Nadezhda stayed on the comeback trail in the EuroLeague Women on Wednesday by avenging their heavy defeat at Bourges.

Anastasiya Veremeenko scored 22 points and Betty Lennox 17 along with nine rebounds as the Russians prevailed at home 65-61 for their second straight win in the competition to improve to 2-6 in Group A.

Bourges are now 5-3 and could fall into second place if Halcon Avenida win their game at home against Besiktas Cola Turka.

The visitors had won the first encounter 79-45 back on October 29 but the second meeting was a very different story.

They weren't able to capitalize on French international Endene Miyem's game-high 25 points.

Pierre Vincent's team didn't help their cause at the free throw line, making just four of 10.

One of those misses came with 2:42 to play in the contest when Ana Lelas had a chance to tie the game but missed the first of two attempts at the charity stripe to leave Bourges trailing 60-59.

Nadezhda went to the other end and Olga Ovcharenko buried a three-pointer for a 63-59 advantage.

Celine Dumerc put up a shot from long range and missed but grabbed the rebound for Bourges, only for Lelas to turn the ball over.

Lennox punished the French giants by hitting a jump shot to stretch the lead to 65-59 with 1:38 remaining.

Nadezhda held on for a four-point triumph.

The coach of the Russian outfit, Vladimir Koloskov, will have plenty of cause for celebration because at one stage it appeared Nadezhda were headed for another defeat.

They could have crumbled after Miyem capped a 6-0 run to put the visitors in front at 55-49 with 6:38 to play.

Latvia international Zane Tamane had five points in a 9-0 run that put Nadezhda back in front at 58-55.

Lelas drilled a three-pointer to tie the contest, but Veremeenko replied with a jump shot for a 60-58 lead and that proved to be the shot that put the home side in front for good.

 

03.12.2008

Quotes Nadezhda vs. Bourges Basket

Coach of Bourges, Piere Vincent:

"The game was untied only in the last minutes. The main reason of our defeat was that we couldn not get control at the end and the complete lack of organised game from our side in the last period."

Assistant coach of Nadezhda, Yuriy Karandashov:

"We needed to reinstate ourselves before our fans because of our past failures. We approached this game thoroughly. Some timeouts helped our team to turn the fortunes of the game for us. My special mention goes to Belorussian player Anastasia Veremeenko. But I think that all our team showed character and we deserved the victory."