Nadezhda Win Sets Up Decider At Sparta&K

A more than solid double-double of 24 points and 10 rebounds by Rebekkah Brunson sparked Nadezhda to a win over Russian rivals Sparta&K

Nadezhda hit back with a vengeance on Friday against Sparta&K M.R. Vidnoje to set up a deciding third game in their EuroLeague Women Round 2 series.

Beaten 93-79 in Game 1, Nadezhda's 87-75 win in Orenburg has set up a do-or-die battle back in Vidnoje on Wednesday.

Both sides are chasing a berth in the Final Eight and veteran Katie Douglas, who played at the Final Four last season with Ros Casares, helped keep Nadezhda hopes alive with 27-point eruption in the 12-point triumph.

Rebekkah Brunson also had a game to remember with 24 points and 10 rebounds for Aleksandr Kovalev's team.

Sparta&K trailed 23-9 late in the first quarter but clawed their way back and went in front by five before half-time.

A Seimone Augustus three-point play put the visitors in front, 40-35.

Augustus had a game-high 28 points.

Pokey Chatman's team wasn't able to press home the advantage, though.

Douglas replied with a shot from the arc and Nadezhda went to the break trailing, 41-38.

A jumper by Elena Danilochkina early in the third quarter put Nadezhda on top, 42-41.

They did not go in front to stay, however, until Nadezhda's 1.78m point guard, Ekaterina Ruzanova, drilled a three-pointer to snap a 50-50 tie midway through the third quarter.

That sparked a 9-2 run for the hosts.

Nadezhda did a lot of their damage at the free-throw line, making 20 of 24 attempts.

The sensational Brunson was eight of 10 and Douglas six of eight.

Ruznova was also four of four at the stripe and finished with 14 points.

Quotes Nadezhda vs. Sparta&K M.R. Vidnoje

"Every time our team plays with Nadezhda we always face an aggressive game of the opponent. During today's match our rival has shown a very strong, tough game. All in all today was a very hard and tense game. I think, the fans surely enjoyed it."

Sparta&К player Evgenia Belyakova
"We wanted to win today to solve all the problems with entering the Final Eight keeping the result of the previous game. But Nadezhda prepared for this match really well, and everything will be seen on February 29, in the third match of this series. I enjoyed this game today- there were some "set pieces", both teams showed a smart game."

Nadezhda head coach Aleksandr Kovalev
"I would like to thank my team for the match. After the defeat in the match of 1/8 final we had some concentrated practices, fully analyzed the previous game - reviewed both team work and individual mistakes. And today our team has shown that we really want to win the next match, too, to have an opportunity enter the Final Eight."

Nadezhda center Anastasiya Verameyenka
"The game was really interesting, I think the fans were pleased with the match. I am really glad we could do our best! We wanted to win this game to continue fighting for the Final Eight. We were well set up for this game and ready both physically and tactically."