17.12.2008

Broker Kosice Beat TEO Vilnius To Third Place

Broker Kosice defeated TEO Vilnius on Wednesday and beat them to third place in Group D in the process.

Slovakian giants Kosice improved to 6-4 and dropped the Lithuanians TEO to 5-5 after overcoming them 75-66.

Broker Kosice went in front by nine in the second quarter and led by as many as 16 in the third.

Sidney Spencer's jumper gave them a 48-32 lead with 6:31 to go in the third frame.

TEO refused to go away and an 8-0 run early in the fourth quarter saw them close the gap to 59-57.

Cathrine Kraayeveld scored and Anna Jurcenkova added two free throws to re-establish a six-point lead for Broker Kosice and they stayed in front the rest of the way.

Spencer had 25 points and seven rebounds while for TEO, Crystal Langhorne finished with 19 and nine.

Fenerbahce also finished 6-4 following a home defeat to Beretta Famila but they had second place sewn up before this week's play because of superior goal differential in potential tie-breakers with both Kosice and TEO.

As it is, Kosice finished third and TEO Vilnius, the only side to beat two-time defending EuroLeague Women champions and Group D winners Spartak Moscow Region this season, fourth.

 

17.12.2008

Quotes Maxima Broker Kosice vs. TEO Vilnius

Štefan Svitek (Maxima Broker head coach):
"It was a very difficult match. We were down from the beginning, but went on to lead at the end of the first quarter. We had an eight points lead after half-time and we let the opponent score only 30 points. During the whole match we played good defense. Vilnius grabben only a few rebounds in the last quarter and started to play more aggressively after changing to zonal defense. We lost the lead and also the pace. But our key players stayed focused and managed to clinch this important win. I think we deserved the victory."

Ivana Jalčová (Maxima Broker forward):
"Of course, we are satisfied. We wanted to win even by one point, so we can finish third in the group. We succeeded and we are very happy about it."

Lindsey Wilson (TEO Vilnius point guard):
"It was an important game for both teams. I played for Ružomberok here in Slovakia, and I am glad for the possibility to play here again. I had a few fans here today. I knew very well that Kosice have a good team. We fought hard, but we were still a few points behind. In the last minutes of the game the home team made some important shots and it was difficult [for us] after that."