Strong Q2 Helps UMMC Despatch CCC

Candace Parker led UMMC Ekaterinburg in both points and rebounds

A powerful second quarter performance by a slightly under-par UMMC Ekaterinburg proved enough to both secure a 66-57 Group C win against CCC Polkowice and preserve their unbeaten EuroLeague Women status.

This third win of the campaign for the Russian powerhouse was built quite firmly around a blistering 25-7 second period that broke the game open - although it was a less than slick offensive display from the tournament favourites.

Their general shooting form deserted them in a big way and particularly from downtown where they managed to make just two of 21 attempts.

That meant they had to rely on their inside presence and specifically Candace Parker, who came up trumps with a double-double and game-winning display of 16 points, 14 rebounds, four assists and two blocks.

Holding a 25-20 lead after the first fifteen minutes of action, Ekat exploded and outscored their opponent 16-2 up until the half-time break to take control of the contest.

To their credit, CCC Polkowice didn't crack completely and after trailing by 20 points at the end of the third, they launched a fight-back in the final period to cut the deficit to single digits.

Agniezska Majewska was the pick for the visitors with an impressively efficient 16 points, whilst Laia Palau had a decidedly mixed evening, failing to register a single point but dishing up 10 assists.

Quotes UMMC Ekaterinburg vs. CCC Polkowice

ССС Polkowice head coach Jacek Winnicki:
"I would like to congratulate UMMC on their victory tonight. It was a hard game for us and UMMC was better. So far our main goal is to win the Polish national championship."

CCC Polkowice player Valeriya Musina:
"We were getting ready to play against UMMC. It is a high-class team of professional players. We did our best but it was not enough. We also had a hard time because Belinda Snell was injured before this game."

UMMC head coach Olaf Lange:
"Winning is everything and I enjoy the result. We played very good defensively and won 20 points in the third quarter. Then they made some shots, we missed some shots and later lost the game rhythm. Scoring two three-point shots out of 21 isn't good for the team. Our center players also have some small micro injuries. So we will work to improve our performance in the three second zone and try to find our rhythm and stride of the game."

UMMC player Candace Parker:
"The Polish team is a strong team that could express us. Tonight our offense affected our defense and vice versa, but still we should not have given up as we did. It's intolerable for a team to play the way we did. On the other hand our opponent played really better in the 1st and 4th period than we did."

Quotes UMMC Ekaterinburg vs. CCC Polkowice

ССС Polkowice head coach Jacek Winnicki:
"I would like to congratulate UMMC on their victory tonight. It was a hard game for us and UMMC was better. So far our main goal is to win the Polish national championship."

CCC Polkowice player Valeriya Musina:
"We were getting ready to play against UMMC. It is a high-class team of professional players. We did our best but it was not enough. We also had a hard time because Belinda Snell was injured before this game."

UMMC head coach Olaf Lange:
"Winning is everything and I enjoy the result. We played very good defensively and won 20 points in the third quarter. Then they made some shots, we missed some shots and later lost the game rhythm. Scoring two three-point shots out of 21 isn't good for the team. Our center players also have some small micro injuries. So we will work to improve our performance in the three second zone and try to find our rhythm and stride of the game."

UMMC player Candace Parker:
"The Polish team is a strong team that could express us. Tonight our offense affected our defense and vice versa, but still we should not have given up as we did. It's intolerable for a team to play the way we did. On the other hand our opponent played really better in the 1st and 4th period than we did."