Sparta&K Roll To Second Victory

Rebekka Hammon contributed 15 points for Sparta&KM.R. Vidnoje

Sparta&K M.R. Vidnoje served notice for the second week in a row that they will again be a force in the EuroLeague Women by beating Bourges.

Four-time winners of the competition, Sparta&K won the Group A game, 84-62.

Pokey Chatman's team went in front by 16 in the first half with Candice Dupree's 16 points leading all scorers.

Dupree, the Week 1 MVP after her 26-point explosion in a victory over Tarsus Belediye Spor, finished with 22 points and seven rebounds against Bourges.

The visitors trailed 46-30 at half-time but clawed their way back into the contest early in the third quarter.

An 8-0 run that began with a tip-in by center Emmeline Ndongue cut the Sparta&K advantage to 53-47.

The French giants had Sparta&K under pressure but the Russians didn't give in.

They went to the last quarter on top 61-53 and took firm control of the clash when a familiar face to the Bourges team began to assert herself.

Isabelle Yacoubou, one of the national team centers of France, powered her way up for lay-ups for Sparta&K's first two baskets of the frame.

They outscored Bourges 23-9 in the quarter for a resounding 22-point triumph.

Yacoubou, who played on the EuroLeague Women title-winning side of Ros Casares last season, finished with 13 points and seven rebounds.

Bourges slumped to 1-1 in Group A with the defeat.

They were out-rebounded, 42-28.

Quotes Sparta&K M.R. Vidnoje vs. Bourges Basket

Valerie Carnier, Bourges coach:

"Sparta&K is a very strong team and by missing a lot of easy shots, losing the battle of the rebounds and shooting below 50% it is almost impossible to beat them in Vidnoje. We have to improve our defense and with some more hard work we surely will improve and play better. But one must not forget that we were playing one very good team on their home court."

Zoi Dimitrakou, Bourges:

"The truth is that the final result is not representative of the actual picture of the game. I say that because we were within eight points midway in the last quarter and [only afterwards] we allowed Sparta&K to widen the gap. That does not mean that Sparta&K is not a very good team. We knew we had to play hard defense and to be concentrated in order to have a change in the game. "

Pokey Chatman, Sparta&K coach:

"We did exactly what we had planned - control the tempo of the game and score somewhere in the 80s and to keep Bourges below 70 points. In this aspect I am happy. We must not forget that we played against a good team and this is why I believe we are in a good direction and that with some more hard work we will only become better. It was a team effort and that makes me especially happy."

Isabelle Yacoubou, Sparta&K:

"It was a difficult win against a very good opponent. But we were determined to win this game and to show that every week we are only improving. We were able to overcome the tough Bourges defense and together all players showed that we can only improve. It was important that we never allowed Bourges to really threaten us and that we showed character throughout the game."

Quotes Sparta&K M.R. Vidnoje vs. Bourges Basket

Valerie Carnier, Bourges coach:

"Sparta&K is a very strong team and by missing a lot of easy shots, losing the battle of the rebounds and shooting below 50% it is almost impossible to beat them in Vidnoje. We have to improve our defense and with some more hard work we surely will improve and play better. But one must not forget that we were playing one very good team on their home court."

Zoi Dimitrakou, Bourges:

"The truth is that the final result is not representative of the actual picture of the game. I say that because we were within eight points midway in the last quarter and [only afterwards] we allowed Sparta&K to widen the gap. That does not mean that Sparta&K is not a very good team. We knew we had to play hard defense and to be concentrated in order to have a change in the game. "

Pokey Chatman, Sparta&K coach:

"We did exactly what we had planned - control the tempo of the game and score somewhere in the 80s and to keep Bourges below 70 points. In this aspect I am happy. We must not forget that we played against a good team and this is why I believe we are in a good direction and that with some more hard work we will only become better. It was a team effort and that makes me especially happy."

Isabelle Yacoubou, Sparta&K:

"It was a difficult win against a very good opponent. But we were determined to win this game and to show that every week we are only improving. We were able to overcome the tough Bourges defense and together all players showed that we can only improve. It was important that we never allowed Bourges to really threaten us and that we showed character throughout the game."