Gdynia Rally To Claim First Win

Aneika Henry and Lotos Gdynia dug deep to overecome Bourges with a great last quarter

The hosts erased a double-digit deficit late on to win 71-67, denying Bourges the chance to equal the 3-1 record of UMMC Ekaterinburg, who began the day top of the group.

It had been Gdynia who made the bright starter, and they led 19-10 when Aneika Henry made a jump-shot and a free-throw.

But Bourges began to show their form and midway through the second quarter an Endene Miyem jump-shot tied it 29-29 before Styliani Kaltsidou's free throws put them in front, part of an 11-0 run that turned the game on its head.

Their lead reached 13, 51-38, midway through the third quarter as Bourges appeared set for a comfortable win.

But Gdynia had other ideas and began clawing their way back, using a 13-2 burst that continued into the fourth quarter to make it a one-point game, 57-56, on Jolene Anderson's jump-shot.

Bourges finally responded with Kiesha Brown padding their lead, but Gdynia's charge was not to be denied, and after Geraldine Robert had added two free throws, she took advantage of a miss from Miyem to put the hosts on top for the first time in the second half, 62-61 with 3:49 to go.

Margaux Galliou and Kaltsidou both missed three pointers for Bourges and Ivana Jalcova made them pay, hoisting back-to-back threes that made it 68-61 with 1:39 left.

The French team were not yet ready to give up, however, and Kaltsidou made a three and drew a foul in the process, bringing the gap back to three, 68-65.

But she missed two more three-point attempts and a Joens turnover allowed Jalcova to pad Gdynia's lead with a jump-shot to make it 70-65 with 18 seconds left.

Brown kept Bourges alive with a pair of free throws but Jalcova iced it from the line.

Jalcova led Gdynia with 15 points while Robert had 14 points and seven rebounds. Henry and Justyna Zurowska each had 12 points, with Henry grabbing nine boards.

Joens had 17 points for Bourges, while Kaltsidou and Brown each added 14 with Kaltsidou recording nine rebounds.

Quotes LOTOS GDYNIA vs. BOURGES BASKET

Bourges Head Coach Valerie Garnier:
"I think it was very difficult game for us. We wanted to win the rebounds  and we had a little succes with it because we had 10 offensive rebounds. But in the second half we had a big problem with the zone defence. We made a lot of shots but we can't score from the outside and inside. We have to work on it."

Gdynia Head Coach Javier Fort Puente:
"This game was very important for us.  If we lost, we could stop dreaming about the next round. We started this game very good but in the second quart we let them play their basketball. Kaltsidou and Joens started to score and we lose by 12 points. When we had critical moment in the third quarter I decided to change the defence. It was a good move. I want to congratulate my team. It was good game for us."

Bourges Forward Endene Miyem:
"I was hard game for us tonight. We had problems with scoring inside and outside. Only Cathy Joens scored but it wasn't enough. We have to practice our game against zone defence."

Gdynia Small Forward Ivana Jalcova:
"As everybody knows it was very difficult game for us. We had to win this. After the third quart we were losing by 12 points but we have not given up  and won. It was very important for us because now we regained confidence and we will play better in the next games."