UMMC Too Classy For Kosice

Candace Parker was big defensively for UMMC Ekaterinburg with nine defensive boards on the way to a 13-rebound, 11-point double-double

Turning Point: There was no turning point after UMMC held Good Angels Kosice scoreless for the first six minutes, racking up the first 15 points of the game.

Game Heroes: Diana Taurasi and Anete Jekabsone both has efficient shooting nights as they combined for 27 points and whilst Candace Parker wasn't her usual clinical self at the hoop, she did the dirty work on the glass with 13 boards.

Stats Don't Lie: Good Angels Kosice usually gorge themselves on offensive rebounds, but UMMC gave up only three during the first half and that contributed to a measly four second chance points in the entire game as well as a 49-24 mauling on the boards. Kosice were also limited to four fast break points too.

UMMC Ekaterinburg reminded everyone why they are favourites to take the 2013 EuroLeague Women Final Eight title after romping into the semi-finals with a 72-41 lockdown of Good Angels Kosice.

In a one-sided affair, the hosts overpowered Kosice and were unstoppable right from the very first play of the game, to leave Olaf Lange in a bullish mood afterwards.

"Well, that was much better," was the emphatic way the UMMC head coach opened up his post-game conference, satisfied with another great defensive effort from his team.

"What pleases me the most, is that we played a complete game with good defence and our offensive flow was much better, with our screening as good as it needs to be."

Led by Diana Taurasi, perhaps keen to make up for her understated performance in the first game against CCC Polkowice, the guard became the main outlet for UMMC with five quick-fire points in the opening moments, whilst Candace Parker also made a statement of intent with four rebounds inside the first three minutes.

When Deanna Nolan made it 10-0, Kosice head coach Maros Kovacik called a time out in a bid to slow down what was in danger of becoming a runaway train.

But, things didn't get much better as Taurasi finished some excellent ball movement with a flourish by draining a three-pointer, before Plenette Pierson belatedly got the first points of the game for Kosice.

Behind 26-8 after ten minutes, the Slovak side then had to endure another chilling drought for almost five minutes as Ekat started the second quarter with eight unanswered points.

Allie Quigley did score five points in a row to get Kosice moving again offensively but by the time they hit the locker rooms, they trailed 43-19.

UMMC did not drop the intensity following the break and stepped things up again in the final quarter to outscore Kosice 18-11 and seal a comprehensive victory.