USK Prague got their EuroLeague Women campaign off to a winning start with a 60-53 triumph at Bourges.

Looking to build on last season when they beat Gambrinus Sika Brno to the Czech title, Lubor Blazek's side claimed a vital road triumph with four players hitting double figures in points.

Trailing 17-12 at the end of the first quarter, Prague outscored Bourges 28-19 over the next 10 minutes to go in front for good.

Prague went ahead by 10 points in the third quarter but did not press home the advantage.

Bourges hung around and with 8:58 left in the contest, Ilona Burgrová's lay-up cut the Prague lead to 50-47.

Greece's Evina Maltsi, the most valuable player of the EuroBasket Women in Latvia this summer, replied with a jump shot for a five-point Prague advantage and they did enough over the final eight and a half minutes to secure the win.

Cathrine Kraayeveld finished with 11 points and 12 rebounds for Prague, while Lindsay Whalen's 12 points led them in scoring.

Maltsi and Katerina Elhotova each finished with 10 points.

For Bourges, Emmeline Ndongue scored 10 points.

Pierre Vincent (Head Coach, Bourges Basket):

"Prague is a big team with excellent players who can shoot and score everytime. I enjoyed our game, but I am not very happy with the second quarter when what I asked for was not respected by the players and in this game all mistakes cost us a lot."

"Although we missed Ana we had good positions to shoot, but we did not score and ZVVZ USK Prague was more than a good team tonight - they scored!"

Lubor Blazek (Head Coach, ZVVZ USK Prague):

"We knew that this match was important because it is the first of the EuroLeague Women. We prepared a hard defense to keep Bourges Basket under 55 points because we can score more. Inside the paint Bourges Basket defended very well so we took big risks with long distance shots and it worked."