Bourges Basket made the perfect start to their best-of-three Eighth-Final Play-Off series against fellow French side USO Mondeville by storming to a resounding 73-63 victory in the first leg.

Four players scored in double-figures for the hosts, who started like a train and only eased off in the final quarter with the win all but secured.

Forward Endene Miyem was their top scorer with 15 points, but center Emmeline Ndongue (12 points and 14 rebounds) and American forward Vicky Hall (14 points and 12 rebounds) were the pick of their team.

Greece star Evanthia Maltsi also impressed with 12 points.

Bourges were 26-17 up by the end of the first quarter and they maintained their strong advantage until the third, when they pulled away even further.

Celine Dumerc sank a three-pointer with 3:48 left in the third to open the gap to 21 points at 56-35, and Bourges ended the quarter with an insurmountable 60-40 cushion.

USO, who closed the gap slightly in the final period, had the game's leading scorer in center Silvia Janostinova (17 points) but were distinctly second best throughout.

They will look to stay in the series by winning the second match, which is played in Mondeville on Friday.