Dazzling Dynamo Moscow Blow Out BLMA

Kristi Toliver led the way for Moscow with 18 points, four rebounds and six assists

The EuroCup Women dreams of Basket Lattes Montpellier Agglomeration are hanging by the finest of threads after an eye-watering 73-51 reverse at Dynamo Moscow in the first-leg quarter-final game.

The Russian hosts looked invincible and posted a quite wonderful performance to give the French league leaders a real hammering, which now looks like it could cost them a place in the last four of the competition.

The damage was largely done during a terrible second period when having kept pace with Dynamo Moscow during the first ten minutes, the wheels came off in spectacular fashion.

BLMA were left reeling when they were out-played at both ends of the floor and out-scored 22-8, which meant they were already looking down the barrel by the interval with Dynamo cruising and 35-20 ahead.

A spell of 13 points without reply was the main foundation of the rotten run which proved most costly, as BLMA continued to throw the ball away - much to the glee of the home team.

Then, just when BLMA steadied the ship via scores from long-term injury victim Kristen Mann and Edwige Lawson to cut the gap to a more manageable 55-45 early in the last period, their improved work was quickly undone as Dynamo again found top gear.

They held BLMA to just six further points in the remaining nine minutes of the contest and stepped on the gas offensively to pile on the agony for their opponents.

Kristi Toliver and Crystal Langhorne were on song for Dynamo with a combined 34 points, the former also adding six assist and four rebounds, whilst the latter contributed eight boards.

Only Geraldine Robert posted a competent performance in defeat with eight points and eight rebounds on a truly woeful shooting night for her team.

Quotes WBC Dynamo Moscow vs. Basket Lattes Montpellier Agglomeration

Dynamo Moscow head coach Vladimir Shtam:
"Our advantage was our tall players. Langhorne, Vidmer and Grishaeva influenced the result as well as the skills of Kristi Toliver. I expect them to fight us and don't expect an easy game in France."

Dynamo Moscow player Svetlana Abrosimova:
"We are stronger than BLMA under the basket so we used the advantage. They had a tough flight and that influenced their game. The game in France is not going to be easy. We have to forget this game and get ready for the next week."

BLMA head coach Valéry Demory:
"I don't know what to say. My team played very bad. The field goal percentage was horrible and we had 17 turnovers. My strategy was good but the team had a very bad day."

BLMA player Edwige Lawson:
"I knew Dynamo is a very good team. I have a lot of respect for their players. We played very bad but I hope next week we'll play better. We didn't show the real strength of our team today."