Dynamo Moscow have designs on upsetting Spartak Moscow Region in the EuroLeague Women quarter-finals but right now, they're finding it tough just to get a win.
In Russia on Monday, the team slumped to its fourth straight defeat, a 71-69 setback at Slavianka Cheliabinsk, who won for just the second time all season in the Superleague Women.
Dynamo did not have FIBA Europe Women's Player of the Year Anete Jekabsone-Zogota, but coach Ainars Zvirgzdins said that was no excuse as his team fell to eighth place in Russia's top flight with just seven wins and 10 defeats.
"Upon reflection, I think I chose the wrong tactics for this game," Zvirgzdins said. "Defeat in this match is totally down to me."
Dynamo seemed to be in control at half-time with a 39-23 lead but Slavianka shaved seven points off the deficit in the third quarter and then moved in front for good when a three-pointer from Natalya Babusheva made it 66-63 midway through the fourth quarter in favour of the hosts.
Babusheva finished with 17 points while Slavianka got a team-high 20 from Nadezhda Kudrina.
Jekabsone-Zogota's Latvian international teammate Ieva Kublina led all scorers with 24 in defeat.