Canadians in Europe: December 5th-6th
There were many heated match-ups across the continent this week, with Canadian players caught right in the middle of them.
EuroLeague
Kevin Pangos had 8 points for Barcelona in a close, defensive-minded game against Buducnost Podgorica in the Montenegrin capital. Both teams were evenly matched and separated by only a handful of points throughout the night.
Lifting Podgorica at the end were Earl Clark and Nemanja Gordic, who both had 12 points and 5 rebounds, and Edwin Jackson put them ahead 67-64 with seconds left. Adam Hanga, who had 12 points himself for Barcelona, tried to save the game with a three, but it fell short.
It was the third win in a row for Podgorica, and one which sees
EuroLeague Women
Castors Braine saw eight points from Ruth Hamblin and a double-double from Celeste Trahan-Davis (19 points, 17 rebounds) - but the team were outplayed by USK Praha, who never once fell behind in this game in the Czech capital. Making more than two-thirds of all field goal attempts, Praha almost doubled Castors’ score at half time and led by as many as 31 in the game. Alyssa Thomas led the home team with 23 points and 8 rebounds, which helped see Praha move up to second place in Group A after handing Castors Braine their fourth straight loss by a score of 82-63.
Meanwhile, Bourges were paid a visit by Euroleague titans Ekaterinburg, and felt the force of the Russian team’s big three: Brittney Griner (19 points, 10 rebounds), Emma Meesseman (14 points, 6 rebounds) and Kayla McBride (13 points, 4 rebounds). Ekaterinburg led by ten in the third, but gathering the most offensive rebounds and second-chance points, Bourges closed the gap.
Katherine Plouffe led Bourges with 17 points, and a three-pointer from her with sixteen seconds left tied the scores. Nayo Raincock-Ekunwe missed a final attempt to win the game for Bourges, and proceedings went into overtime. Meeseman and Courtney Vandersloot opened the extra period by giving Ekaterinburg a five-point lead, and with few looks falling for them, Bourges were resigned to the loss.
A valiant effort from the French team fell short by four points, but they are still sat in third place in Group A.
EuroCup Women
In an all-French face off, Landes fell behind 10-0 early on to Tarbes, but closed the gap with some good close-range shooting. Five Landes players scored in double digits, one being Miranda Ayim, who had 12 along with seven total rebounds. Tarbes, though, saw a phenomenal performance from Alexis Prince, who had 41 points and 9 rebounds in the game, while the team also dropped 12 threes and put on a powerful defensive display.
A second loss in a row sees Landes fall to third place in Group J, below undefeated Tarbes who reaffirm their place at the top spot after their 84-73 win over Landes.
Energa Torun travelled to Istanbul to take on the defending EuroCup champions, Galatasaray. Working the offensive boards and contesting every loose ball, Torun went from nine down in the second quarter to one up at the start of the third. Nirra Fields led all scorers with 20 points for Torun, but with the slight greater edge in the field, Galatasaray reclaimed their lead and their defensive pressure saw shot after shot fall short for the visitors.
Their 56-50 loss sees Torun sitting in second place, behind Galatasaray, in Group B with a game remaining.
Michelle Plouffe in action for ASVEL Lyon. Picture: Gal Jozsef
Michelle Plouffe finished with 13 points and 10 rebounds for ASVEL Lyon as they travelled to Hungary to take on Cegled. Despite a game-high 25 points from Cegled's Jovana Popovic, it was ASVEL who were in control in this game.
Making two thirds of all field goal attempts and dominating the boards on both ends, ASVEL led by as many as 26 and finished by a scoreline of 95 to 73 - a win that takes them to second place in Group I.
