CSKA Moscow are nowhere near full strength but two of their newcomers, Katie Douglas and Olexandra Gorbunova, were at least ready to play in the club's season opener against Dynamo Novosibirsk this week and helped them to a 66-59 win.

Douglas, who has joined the Russian giants from Ros Casares, had 16 points while former MKB Euroleasing star Gorbunova chipped in 10.

Russia's bronze-medal winner Ilona Korstin poured in 12.

CSKA had a bright start and extended a 10-point lead at the end of the first quarter to 17 by half-time.

They did not pull away but were not under pressure at the end.

"The first part of the game while we were fresh, and there were no problems with fouls, the girls have played very well," said Gundars Vetra, the CSKA head coach who is entering his second season at the helm.

"In the second half, it felt like the girls were a little bit tired, not always making the right decisions. Moreover, some picked up four fouls, and (Lyudmila) Sapova five.

"But we finally managed to finish the game in a good way to gain the important victory.

"As a whole. I am happy with the result."

CSKA Moscow will be looking forward to their EuroLeague Women campaign, which tips off on October 15 at home to ESB Lille Metropole.

They went into the quarter-finals last year against UMMC Ekaterinburg undefeated but lost two close games.

CSKA are still awaiting the arrivals of Janel McCarville and Becky Hammon, who just completed WNBA campaigns with New York and San Antonio, respectively.

Meanwhile, the club has announced that star forward Olga Arteshina has given birth to a baby girl.