The USK Praha basketball players lost at the start of the European League to Montpellier by one point
Updates: 10/06/2021 22:30
Released: 06.10.2021, 22:30
Lattes (France) – Basketball players of USK Prague started the new year of the European League with a close defeat on the field of the French Lattes Montpellier 74:75. In the dramatic duel, not even 23 points of the Spaniard María Condeová were enough for the trustee of coach Natálie Hejková, the new reinforcement Dragana Stankovičová added another 20 points. Olivia Époupa pulled the home team, scoring 22 points, including a decisive free throw four seconds before the end.
In the next matches of group A, the favored Ekaterinburg won on the Riga field at 71:56 and Venice defeated the newcomer from Szekszárd 80:59. The next duel awaits the Czech champions on October 13 at the MBA Moscow.
Not only did Alyssa Thomas and Brionna Jones have to do in France without the American supporters of Alyssa Thomas, because they still play the overseas WNBA, but from this season they also have to deal with the absence of Kateřina Elhotová, who ended her detention due to family reasons. Slovenian quarterback Teja Oblaková took over her role of captain.
Both teams entered the match with a strong defense and after five minutes the score was only 4: 2 for the home team. Montpellier then escaped to the lead 11: 2, but the Prague team caught the onset of the opponents in time and thanks to 10 points Condeová equalized to 17:17 by the end of the first quarter.
In the next part, the Czech champions took over the lead thanks to the points of Oblaková and Stankovičová, but the home team was held by the French national team member and four-time European vice-champion Époupaová with 11 bodies within range. Before leaving the cabin, Pražanek lowered the promising five-point lead with a two-point shot with a Filipova horn.
The Montpellier basketball players started well in the third quarter and equalized to 38:38 after three minutes. USK must be used safely on another blockbuster, and to Conde, who already had 19 points after thirty minutes, was joined by Stankovičová, who accumulated only four fewer bodies. Veronica Voráčková also did well under the basket; after three quarters she jumped 11 balls. That is also why the Prague team entered the final part with the leadership of 57:51.
However, the home team returned to the game with the loud support of the fans and four minutes before the end, after the acrobatic basket, Époupa’s score turned around. Then, two minutes before the end, Pražanky will regain a three-point lead, but Époupaová and Wallac took the duel back to the home side.
Voráčková also gave hope for an extension, which equalized to 74:74. On the other hand, Filipová did not convert two free throws, but after a subsequent foul by Stankovičová, Époupaová also received a decision and a decision four seconds before the end of the chance. She had to turn only one free throw, the other had already finished her entry Toure and the Czech champions did not manage to do more.
European Basketball League – Round 1
Group A:
Montpellier – USK Prague 75:74 (17:17, 32:35, 51:57)
Most points: Époupaová 22, Petersová, Filipová and Wallaceová after 14 – Condeová 23, Stankovičová 20, Oblaková 14. Fouls: 21:14. Free throws: 11/7 – 16/13. Threes: 8: 7. Rebounds: 42:46.