| 02.02.2010
Spartak Moscow Region delivered a second-quarter knockout punch against Lotos Gdynia in the opening game of their EuroLeague Women Eighth-Finals tie. The three-time defending champions, who trailed 10-0 at the start of the game but replied with an 11-0 run, ended up winning 98-49.  | | Janel Mc Carville was the top scorer in a once again balanced Spartak offense |
Janel McCarville scored a game-high 22 points and Sylvia Fowles had 21. Spartak's big early run gave them their first lead with 4:00 to go in the first quarter. Erin Phillips answered with a jumper to give Gdynia their last lead at 12-11 because shortly after, Fowles powered her way up for a lay-up to start a 6-0 scoring spurt for the home side. Spartak took a 19-14 lead by the end of the opening quarter and went to half-time in command at 43-26. At the interval, Fowles had 14 points and McCarville 10. The Russian giants pulled away in the second half for a 49-point triumph. Diana Taurasi went from scorer to distributor for Spartak. She had a game-high 10 assists to go with her seven points. Game 2 is on Friday in Gdynia. |