The USK Praha basketball players did not beat EL Ekaterinburg, they lost 77:90
Updates: 12.01.2022 22:18
Released: 12.01.2022, 22:03
Prague – The USK Praha basketball players lost in the home match of the 11th round of the European League with the favored Ekaterinburg 77:90 and scored their third defeat in this year’s prestigious competition. In the absence of Alyssa Thomas 19, the American champion Brionna Jones did not help the Czech champion. The defender of the trophy was pulled by 25 points Brittney Griner, her colleague Jonquel Jones scored for 20 points and 11 double rebounds.
Coach Natálie Hejková’s team remained second in the incomplete group A table ahead of Salamanca, who, however, has two good matches. The Russian team, which is attacking the fourth triumph in the EL in a row, is still at the head with a 100% balance.
“It’s a pretty decent result. We played without one of our props and Ekaterinburg has a huge strength under the basket. It also turned out. It took them three minutes to land their own shots under the basket, push through and bounce off us. I can’t push Jones, both in defense and in attack, “Hejková told reporters.
The home players came in without Thomas’ undergrowth. The 29-year-old American had a positive coronavirus test during the Christmas break, and although she managed to join the team at the last minute, Hejková decided not to include her on the roster. The Harrisburg native watched the entire duel from the substitutes’ bench.
“It would be risky to deploy her after the covid. She was not yet completely fit and something happened. However, we clearly missed her game. Especially in defense and with the balls, when the opponent had an awful lot of second attempts. Hejková.
USK kept a popular move in the introduction and, thanks to careful defense, did not let it escape to a blockbuster larger than three. On the other hand, after six points, the Clouds and the Conde trio with a horn finished the first quarter with a tight lead of 17:16.
The star-studded Ekaterinburg found it difficult to assert itself in a condensed defense at the beginning of the second half. When the USK took the Vyoral trio after 30:24, the coach of the guests recommended a break. Pražanek’s lead even reached seven at one point, but the Russian opponent rose in the offensive and, despite 11 points by María Condeová and Brionna Jones, the blockbuster of the home team gradually erased.
The end of the second quarter was directed by Ekaterinburg, who led the duel from 36:39 to 47:39 after an improved landing game and 11 points in a row. The mainstay was American Jonquel Jones, who scored five rebounds for 14 points and three gains and blocks. Her compatriot Griner added 12 points.
“It was interesting how many stars had rivals on the substitutes’ bench. That’s why I’m talking about the fact that I can’t be extra dissatisfied. Although we could have been better in certain activities, we played against the choice of the world. they advised them, but we dragged most of the match under the basket for a shorter end, “said Hejková.
Thanks to Brionna Jones’ points, USK tried to stay in the game in the absence of her undercoat mark, but Thomas was Ekaterina’s Rozburg found in the third quarter up to eighteen points (65:47) and entered the final part with a fifteen-point blockbuster. Jonquel Jones already had a double for 14 points and 10 rebounds.
At the end of the last part, the Prague team was lured by Conde’s three-point shot and thanks to Barbora Bálintová’s seven points in a row, they got a difference of seven points. However, Allie Quigley held Ekaterinburg with a three, and after a basket with Jonquel Jones’ mistake, their tip was again 13 points five minutes before the end.
In the end, the Russian team did not admit the drama and after winning by 13 points, it won against the USK for the fourth time in a row and the tenth of the last 11 matches. In total, he did not lose the 30th duel in a row in the Euroleague.
The next match awaits USK in Salamancy for a week, with which he will fight for second place in the group. “Basically it will be a key match, who will be second. Salamanca has one less loss at the moment and we have to beat it. It will be a duel of their broad team against ours again, but I hope Thomas will be fine and the players, God knows what they won’t play today, “added Hejková.
USK Prague – UMMC Yekaterinburg 77:90 (17:16, 39:47, 50:65)
Most points: B. Jones 19, Conde 18, Cloud 11 – Griner 25, J. Jones 20, Quigley 14. Fouls: 11:14. Free throws: 12.11. – 8.6. Threes: 10: 8. Rebounds: 36:43.
Other results of group A: Szekszárd – MBA Moscow 64:73, Venice – Riga 54:62.
table:
1. | Ekaterinburg | 11 | 11 | 0 | 936: 760 | 22 |
2. | USK Prague | 11 | 8 | 3 | 927: 676 | 19 |
3. | Salamanca | 9 | 7 | 2 | 702: 592 | 16 |
4. | Riga | 11 | 5 | 6 | 647: 751 | 16 |
5. | Montpellier | 10 | 5 | 5 | 684: 783 | 15 |
6. | MBA Moscow | 11 | 3 | 8 | 708: 807 | 14 |
7. | Venice | 10 | 3 | 7 | 641: 672 | 13 |
8. | Szekszárd | 11 | 0 | 11 | 651: 855 | 11 |