Arras Claim First Win To Shock Schio

Sandra Dijon pulled down a personal EuroLeague Women career high 15 rebounds

There was a sense of joy and relief for Arras who finally found a first win in EuroLeague Women Group B at the ninth attempt as they chalked up a shock 69-57 success against high-flying Famila Schio.

It's been a turbulent and generally miserable campaign so far for the French club, but this rare ray of sunshine will certainly lift some of the gloom as they made the most of a short-handed Schio team without both Laura Macchi and Jenifer Nadalin.

Still, Schio had enough to find another victory and the credit was due to Arras in the way they left the visitors completely stunned with a blistering second quarter performance which undoubtedly paved the way for their first victory.

Edged out 21-19 in the opening ten minutes, Arras out-scored a shell-shocked Schio 21-6, a run which gave them a 40-27 advantage heading to the locker rooms.

In their unfamiliar position of holding a big lead, the question was whether Arras could stay strong and see the game out when they returned to the floor.

And, they answered this in resounding fashion by continuing their good work and not allowing Schio any realistic possibility of spoiling their great night of work.

The damage had been done as far as the Italians were concerned and they were very much torched by veteran Sandra Dijon as the 37-year-old rolled back the years with a monumental double-double effort of 14 points and 15 rebounds.

Olesia Malashenko is at the opposite end of her career, but the 21-year-old frontcourt partner of Dijon also came up trumps with 16 points and seven rebounds.

Schio didn't function offensively outside of Danielle McCray and Jantel Lavender. They scored 42 of their team's total points, with the latter landing her fifth double-double of the season after scoring 26 points and pulling down 13 rebounds.

Quotes Arras vs. Famila Schio

Arras head coach Marc Silvert:
"We worked a lot during the last five days. The players learned a lot of new systems and tonight we saw the beginning of the result. I want to win six or seven of the next 10 games."

Arras player Dawn Evans:
"The adaption is difficult, we work so much; but we did the maximum and finally we won. That's great."

Schio head coach Maurizio Lasi:
"It's a disappointment, but now we must win to continue in the competition."

Quotes Arras vs. Famila Schio

Arras head coach Marc Silvert:
"We worked a lot during the last five days. The players learned a lot of new systems and tonight we saw the beginning of the result. I want to win six or seven of the next 10 games."

Arras player Dawn Evans:
"The adaption is difficult, we work so much; but we did the maximum and finally we won. That's great."

Schio head coach Maurizio Lasi:
"It's a disappointment, but now we must win to continue in the competition."