Classy UMMC Thrash Hosts Prague

UMMC Ekaterinburg out-rebounded USK Prague 50-30, with Tatiana Vidmer grabbing nine boards

UMMC Ekaterinburg won for the fourth time in five games in the EuroLeague Women on Wednesday night at USK Prague.

Sandrine Gruda led a balanced attack with 15 points as UMMC beat Lubor Blazek's side, 74-59.

The Czechs, fresh off their upset of Ros Casares in Valencia, got 24 points from Anna Montanana although 10 of those came in the last quarter when the result was beyond doubt.

UMMC took a firm grip on proceedings early in the second quarter.

On top 21-17 after Frida Eldebrink's jumper for Prague, Parker hit a three-pointer and Gruda followed with two free-throws.

A Montanana miss then triggered a UMMC fast break that Parker finished for a 28-17 lead.

After going to the changing rooms in front 31-19, UMMC returned for the third quarter and just three seconds after the restart, Olga Arteshina drilled a shot from the arc to take the advantage to 34-19.

She hit another with 7:38 to play to make it 39-21.

Montanana replied with back-to-back three-pointers to give Prague hope, but Gruda rebounded an Arteshina miss and scored on the put-back.

Pondexter followed with a fast-break jumper to stretch the advantage back to 43-27.

UMMC went on a 13-2 run over the last 3:51 of the third quarter to take a 56-31 lead and coasted the rest of the way.

The visitors out-rebounded Prague, who dropped to 2-3 on the season, 50-30.

Quotes ZVVZ USK Prague vs. UMMC Ekaterinburg

UMMC Ekaterinburg Head Coach Algirdas Paulauskas
"We were relaxed when we didn´t see Delisha Milton-Jones and we started the game slowly. When we playing faster we started resolving the game. It was good for us that Delisha didn't play. But our team had also problems - some players were injured, we were missing Hana Horáková a lot. We are satisfied to have 50 rebounds, even if we were losing in the beginning."

ZVVZ USK Prague Head Coach Lubor Blažek
"We were not successful in shooting in the first half, that's how we lost contact. They were very good in rebounds, it's their strength and they did a couple of fastbreaks and became calmer thanks to it. To concede 31 points in the first half with such a strong team doesn't mean a bad game on defense, however, to score only 19 is not enough. I appreciate we didn´t give up, even if it seemed already decided. I´m glad we fought till the end and finally managed reducing the 25-point deficit to a reasonable result."

UMMC Ekaterinburg player Candace Parker
"We had good defense in the first half and then we were even getting better on offense. It's about getting better in every game and that's what we did."

ZVVZ USK Prague player Ticha Penicheiro
"It was a tough game today. We knew it will be hard, but they are a top team and moreover we were missing Delisha. We were fighting hard, but it wasn´t enough."