CSKA Volgaburmash drew first blood in their EuroLeague Women quarter-final play-off with a 75-62 triumph over MKB Euroleasing on Tuesday.

The match was finely poised until the second half, with only one point in it at the midway stage with CSKA 33-32 up.

But the third quarter started with a Maria Stepanova jump-shot which sparked a 10-2 run for CSKA as they began to establish their dominance.

When Edwige Lawson sank a three-ball to open the fourth quarter, it was 54-45 to the hosts.

With 08:11 left Andrea Balas-Pirine Karolyi sank a three-pointer to get it back to 57-50 for MKB, but Demya Walker then made back-to-back jumpers to see off the threat of a fightback, and it was smooth sailing the rest of the way for CSKA.

Belgian center Ann Wauters led the victors with 23 points and 10 rebounds.

She was ably supported by double-digit hauls from Lawson (13 points), Walker (11) and Ilona Korstin (11).

Ivana Matovic netted 22 points and grabbed eight rebounds for MKB but it was not enough to prevent defeat.