Lucia Kupcikova was a big reason why Slovakia had a good EuroBasket Women last year in Latvia.

On Tuesday night in Schio, she reminded everyone of that fact with a terrific performance to lead Good Angels Kosice to 70-67 win over Beretta-Famila.

Lucia Kupcikova stepped out of the shadow to lift her team over Schio

Kupcikova had 12 points by half-time, including a tip-in that left them ahead, 48-36 at the break.

With Schio fighting back and trailing just 56-51 at the start of fourth, Kupcikova hit a three-pointer.

It took a team effort for Kosice to claim this valuable road win, though.

After the sensational Laura Macchi scored on a drive for Beretta-Famila to reduce the deficit to 59-55, Luisa Michulková replied with a basket for Kosice.

Schio kept the pressure on and twice reduced the arrears to two points, at 61-59 and 63-61, following baskets by Elisabetta Moro and Mudju Ngoyisa.

Each time, Miljana Musovic responded.

She first made a lay-up and then, following Ngoyisa's shot, drilled a three-pointer for a 66-61 advantage.

The home side continued to battle and when Raffaella Masciadri hit a shot from the arc with 15 seconds left, her team trailed 69-67.

Schio fouled Kosice's Angel McCoughtry and she sank just one of two free-throws to leave the door open for the hosts but Masciadri missed a potential game-tying three-ball.

Macchi finished with 24 points while Kupcikova scored a team-high 17 points and added nine rebounds in defeat.