Our women's basketball specialist Paul Nilsen reflects on the latest round ofEuroLeague Women action.
CHANGES ON THE CARDS AT CASTORS
It has been an eventful few days at Mithra Castors Braineafter rather crushing news broke that within a few weeks of making her EuroLeague Women debut, Ukraine national team ace and former FIBA Europe Young Women's Player of the Year Alina Iagupova will be leaving because she is homesick - along with injured compatriot Lyudmila Naumenko.
Castors Braine have penned veteran Bulgaria national team swingmanDonneka Hodges as a replacement, which certainly helps and yet it feels like the air has been let out of the balloon having seen Iagupova's glimpses of brilliance during the first three weeks.
It does leave a significant hole for Castors and Hodges will go some way to filling it because of her scoring power and experience. Nevertheless, the Belgian side no longer have one of the most unique and talented players in the women's game - I just sincerely hope that the competition sees a return for Iagupova, sooner rather than later.
Incidentally, I thought the way that head coach Jurgen van Meerbeeckresponded to this blow with such an outstanding effort in Ekaterinburg was admirable. The staff and players really stepped up and pushed UMMC down to the wire which I enjoyed watching - although I actually thought they could and maybe should have won the game.
TAKING THE LID OFF THE BASKET
Something happened in the game between Galatasaray and Villeneuve d'Ascq and the French side should think about launching an investigation, because it looked to me like someone put a lid on the basket they were attacking after the opening ten minutes.
There was an extraordinary change of direction, the kind of which I can't recall happening in recent years. Villeneuve scored 20 points in the opening ten minutes and actually led 20-11, before an inexplicable 15 points in the next 30 minutes.
While credit has to be placed at the door of the home side for their defence and making adjustments - it is amazing that a team flying as high in a respected league like France can't break double-digits in a half and score seven, four and four across three quarters. Much was down to being 1-of-14 from three-point range and having a bad night at the office from downtown is common and generally accepted.
But, it was the lack of offensive rebounding and put-back opportunities for second-chance scores when you are struggling to execute, which probably left Frederic Dusart most irritated.
MY WEEKLY GONGS
Team performance of the week: I am so very tempted to rack up a rarity and give it to a team who actually lost in Castors Braine for how they played in Ekaterinburg. But, I can't do anything other than give credit and the award toRoberto Iniguez and his Nadezhda players for their superb double-figure win at Tango Bourges.
Individual performance of the week: Kayla McBride just pips her Nadezhda team-mate Dewanna Bonner for the accolade. I have been so impressed with McBride and she put up an excellent 20 points, making 8-of-13 from the field. Considering it is her first season in the tournament, she is at a new team and also factoring in she is yet to click from deep, she is still shooting over 50% from the floor and turning up for the big games.
Unsung hero: Jewell Loyd grabbed the headlines for Galatasaray but her display was ably supported by Isil Alben who had 12 points, seven assists, six rebounds and not a single turnover in 36 minutes - the last number so, so impressive to me in such a hard-nosed competition and competitive environment.
Rising star: Aleksandra Crvendakic takes the title once again for an even better performance than she posted during week three. This time the Serbian teenager may have ended up on the losing side with Uniqa Sopron, but her career-high 25 points and seven rebounds was absolutely fantastic.
FOOTNOTES
I lost count of how many teams who were favoured to win, used the time in the locker room to re-group and re-chart their path for the second half after under-par displays in the first 20 minutes. ZVVZ USK Prague,Fenerbahce,Dynamo Kursk, Beretta Famila Schio and Galatasaray all came to the party after their respective coaches no doubt gave interesting talks at the break.
We have seen it so many times before when a team moves to a new venue or even has their own arena re-configured that it takes time to re-establish that sense of home feeling. Tango Bourges had one of the best home-court records in the tournament and have dropped to 1-3 as they fail to settle at the 5,000 seat Le Prado. Or at least that is the theory - but perhaps even last season, they would have had to have played incredibly well to avoid losses againstUMMC Ekaterinburg and Nadezhda. Next up at home are the tricky Castors Braine and then holders ZVVZ USK Prague, when we will see if their new surroundings are having an adverse impact.
Both Fenerbahce and Beretta Famila Schio set high standards on the glass this week with a new high tide mark of 19 offensive rebounds against Uniqa Sopron and Pefumerias Avenida respectively. Fenerbahce also became the third team to record a season-high eight blocked shots in a single game.
Wisla Can-Pack are yet to win and UMMC are yet to lose - which record will snap first? Now there's a thought to leave you with and especially as Wisla have a daunting Bourges, Nadezhda and Agu Spor in their next three games!
