MiZo Edge Gospic To Clinch First Win

MiZo Pécs 2010 claimed their first victory in this season's EuroLeague Women with a 74-68 triumph at Gospic Croatia.

Following narrow setbacks to Beretta-Famila, Wisla Can-Pack Krakow and Halcon Avenida, the Hungarian team breathed some life into their Group B campaign with Wednesday's road victory.

Nicole Ohlde had 24 points and 12 rebounds for MiZo and Anna Vajda scored 23 points.

Having uncharacteristically missed all five of her free-throw attempts last week against Avenida, Ohlde bounced back to sink seven of eight against Gospic.

A key stretch in Wednesday's game in Croatia started with 1:56 remaining in the second quarter.

Trailing 32-31, MiZo finished the half with a 10-4 run to take the lead for good.

Hungary international Vajda scored MiZo's first six points in that spurt.

However, Gospic, who lost their opening three games as well, remained within striking distance the rest of the way.

A pair of Jelena Ivezic free-throws cut the MiZo lead to 70-68 with 4:48 to play.

That was as close as Gospic would get.

Dalma Ivanyi passed to the excellent Ohlde who made a jump shot and then Ivanyi sank a jumper of her own with 1:56 left.

Neither team scored the rest of the way, with Andja Jelavic and Ivana Jurcevic each missing from long range for Gospic.

Ivanyi didn't play for Hungary this year but her all-round excellent play against Gospic showed yet again why basketball fans in the country will be hoping that she returns to the set-up.

The 33-year-old point guard had 13 rebounds and 10 assists to go with her six points.

Jelavic finished with 20 points, six assists and five rebounds for Gospic with Carla Thomas also contributing 16 points.

Quotes Gospic Croatia vs. MiZo Pécs 2010

Akos Fuzy, MiZo Pec Head Coach:

"It was very important for us to win.  We knew, just as Gospić did, that we had to win even by one point to stay alive in the group."

Dalma Ivanyi, MiZo Pec:    

"We knew that Gospić was a new team in the EuroLeague, but we also knew that they are a dangerous team to play against and that it would be difficult to beat them.  Of course, this is an excellent team, but in their most important moments they missed their shots and we came to win.  This made us very happy."

Stipe Bralić, Gospic Head Coach: 

"Physically, this was a very difficult game.  The Hungarians are fast runners and physically stronger.  From the beginning of the game, they had a strong rhythm which was difficult to keep up with.  Near the end of the game, we came to a minus two point difference, but because of our lack of strength we weren't able to make good shots.  In the first part of the game, while we still had enough energy, we made a lot of mistakes.  The Hungarians were always leading, but our team with all of their efforts, were not able to catch up to them."

Anđa Jelavić, Gospic: 

"It was a wonderful atmosphere and for this, their fans along with ours, are to be credited.  I am sad that we lost.  In the first part of the game, we didn't take advantage of the open shots and this came to revenge us in the end."