EuroCup Heads to the Playoffs – International Update 12-5
December 5, 2017
The first milestone of the International season came this past week with the EuroCup group stage drawing to a close. The Liberty had one player emerge into the 1st round of the playoffs in Bria Hartley and Mersin BSB, who finished 2nd in Group B and begin a home-and-home playoff series with MBA from the Russian League on Dec. 14.
Nayo Raincock-Ekunwe (Nantes) and Shavonte Zellous (Besiktas) saw their EuroCup seasons come to an end with the conclusion of group play last week. For Zellous, she was able to play just a pair of EuroCup contests after joining Besiktas in mid-November.
In EuroLeague action, both Epiphanny Prince (Dynamo Kursk) and Amanda Zahui B (USK Praha) were victorious, while Kia Vaughn and Fenerbahce lost to Yakin Dogu in an all Turkish League matchup. The 1st half of EuroLeague group action concludes this week.
There were a pair of games featuring Liberty vs. Liberty matchups this week. In Russia, Prince and Dynamo Kursk handed Lindsay Allen and Dynamo Moscow a 92-66 loss, as Prince’s team remained unbeaten in 2017.
In the Turkish League, Kiah Stokes helped lead Botas to a 78-69 upset victory over Fenerbahce, evening its record to 4-4 on the year while Fenberbahce, who was previously unbeaten in Turkey, fell into a 3-way tie for 1st place.
LIBERTY INTERNATIONAL PLAYER OF THE WEEK
Lindsay Allen – Dynamo Moscow
Point guard Lindsay Allen and Dynamo Moscow faced a tough matchup with league leading Dynamo Kursk, featuring Liberty backcourt teammate Epiphanny Prince, but Allen turned in one of her best games of the season in Russia, leading her team with 20 points while shooting 8-of-11 from the field overall and 3-of-4 from 3-point range. She also had 5 rebounds, 4 assists, and a pair of steals.
REBECCA ALLEN #8 – Lyon Basket
France-LFB (4-5, Ranked T-6th)
Recent Results
Nov. 25 vs. Hainaut: W, 89-67 (7 pts, 3-5 FG, 2 reb, 2 ast, 1 blk, 21 min) | BOX SCORE
Dec. 2 vs. Bourges: L, 53-69 (8 pts, 3-11 FG, 2 3FG, 3 stl, 26 min) | BOX SCORE
|
GM |
MIN |
FGA |
FGM |
FG% |
3FG |
3FGA |
3FG% |
FTM |
FTA |
FT% |
REB |
AST |
STL |
BLK |
PTS |
| #8 R. ALLEN (France) |
9 |
27.8 |
19 |
52 |
.365 |
10 |
32 |
.313 |
9 |
10 |
.900 |
5.1 |
2.4 |
0.8 |
0.9 |
8.6 |
Heading into an off week, Rebecca Allen and Lyon suffered a 69-53 setback to league-leading Bourges in the French League. Allen logged 26 minutes and nailed a couple of 3-pointers, finishing with 8 points and 3 steals for her team. So far she is averaging 8.6 ppg, 5.1 rpg, and 2.4 apg. Lyon will play just once over the next month, and resumes action on Dec. 17 when it faces Lattes Mont.
NAYO RAINCOCK-EKUNWE #4 – Nantes Reze Basket
France-LFB (3-6, Ranked T-9th)
EuroCup Group J (2-4, Ranked 4th)
Recent Results
Nov. 29 vs. Hainaut: W, 63-50 (14 pts, 6-12 FG, 1 3FG, 12 reb, 3 ast, 3 stl, 29 min) | BOX SCORE
Dec. 2 vs. Tarbes: L, 59-72 (9 pts, 3-9 FG, 9 reb, 2 ast, 2 stl, 1 blk, 36 min) | BOX SCORE
|
GM |
MIN |
FGA |
FGM |
FG% |
3FG |
3FGA |
3FG% |
FTM |
FTA |
FT% |
REB |
AST |
STL |
BLK |
PTS |
| #4 N. RAINCOCK-EKUNWE (France) |
9 |
32.7 |
45 |
110 |
.409 |
3 |
13 |
.231 |
38 |
62 |
.613 |
12.9 |
1.6 |
1.1 |
0.4 |
15.2 |
| #4 N. RAINCOCK-EKUNWE (EuroCup) |
6 |
33.7 |
32 |
60 |
.533 |
3 |
13 |
.231 |
18 |
31 |
.581 |
11.3 |
1.7 |
1.7 |
0.7 |
16.7 |
It was a week of mixed results for Nayo Raincock-Ekunwe and Nantes as they closed out their EuroCup group action with a victory, but suffered a loss in the French League. In an all-French matchup in Group J of the EuroCup, Nantes defeated Hainaut 63-50 with Raincock-Ekunwe posting a 14-point, 12 rebound double-double. Over the weekend, Raincock-Ekunwe was limited to just 9 points and 9 rebounds as Nantes lost to Tarbes 72-59. Despite the victory over Hainaut, Nantes did not move on to the 1st round of the EuroCup playoffs, and will now focus purely on the French League, where Raincock-Ekunwe ranks 6th in scoring (15.2 ppg) and 1st in rebounding (12.9 rpg). They will face Mondeville on Dec. 17 in their only game over the next 4 weeks.
AMANDA ZAHUI B #17 – USK Praha
Czech Republic-ZBL (11-0, Ranked 1st)
EuroLeague Group A (4-2, Ranked T-2nd)
Recent Results
Nov. 29 vs. Sopron Basket: W, 79-71 (15 pts, 6-15 FG, 12 reb, 2 blk, 30 min) | BOX SCORE
Dec. 2 vs. Nymburk: W, 105-58 (17 pts, 7-14 FG, 9 reb, 1 stl, 23 min) | BOX SCORE
|
GM |
MIN |
FGA |
FGM |
FG% |
3FG |
3FGA |
3FG% |
FTM |
FTA |
FT% |
REB |
AST |
STL |
BLK |
PTS |
| #17 A. ZAHUI B (Czech Republic) |
11 |
23.5 |
74 |
121 |
.612 |
6 |
12 |
.500 |
51 |
59 |
.864 |
6.9 |
1.4 |
2.2 |
1.1 |
19.7 |
| #17 A. ZAHUI B (EuroLeague) |
6 |
32.3 |
38 |
75 |
.507 |
6 |
17 |
.353 |
23 |
30 |
.767 |
9.5 |
1.7 |
0.5 |
2.0 |
19.5 |
After leading her team to yet another EuroLeague victory, Amanda Zahui B remained at the top of the standings for League MVP approaching the mid-way point of the group stage as USK Praha defeated Sopron Basket 79-71 behind 15 points, 12 rebounds, and 2 blocked shots from Zahui B. She remains 2nd in the league averaging 19.5 ppg, and leads all EuroLeague competitors with 9.5 rpg. In the Czech League, USK Praha easily defeated Nymburk 105-58 as Zahui B logged just 23 minutes, scoring 17 points with 9 rebounds. USK Praha will complete the 1st half of EuroLeague group play against Castors Brai on Dec. 6, followed by a Czech League game over the weekend.
EPIPHANNY PRINCE #10 – Dynamo Kursk
Russia-PBL (8-0, Ranked 2nd)
EuroLeague Group A (6-0, Ranked 1st)
Recent Results
Nov. 29 vs. Galatasaray: W, 102-45 (10 pts, 4-5 FG, 1 3FG, 2 ast, 1 stl, 19 min) | BOX SCORE
Dec. 3 vs. Dynamo Moscow: W, 92-66 (12 pts, 4-6 FG, 2 3FG, 3 reb, 3 ast, 1 stl, 18 min) | BOX SCORE
|
GM |
MIN |
FGA |
FGM |
FG% |
3FG |
3FGA |
3FG% |
FTM |
FTA |
FT% |
REB |
AST |
STL |
BLK |
PTS |
| #10 E. PRINCE (Russia) |
8 |
18.5 |
17 |
33 |
.515 |
11 |
18 |
.611 |
9 |
9 |
1.000 |
2.9 |
2.4 |
1.1 |
0.1 |
9.5 |
| #10 E. PRINCE (EuroLeague) |
6 |
18.2 |
12 |
20 |
.600 |
5 |
14 |
.357 |
3 |
3 |
1.000 |
1.5 |
2.0 |
0.7 |
0.0 |
7.0 |
Two more wins for Dynamo Kursk last week as they close in on finishing the 1st half of EuroLeague group play with an unbeaten record. Kursk more than doubled up Galatasaray in EuroLeague, picking up a 102-45 win with Prince scoring 10 points with 2 assists in 19 minutes. Their Russian League game featured a matchup between a pair or Liberty backcourt stars as they faced Lindsay Allen and Dynamo Moscow, with Kursk earning the 92-66 win. Prince scored 12 points, hitting a pair of 3-pointers, while Allen poured in 20 points for Moscow. This week, Dynamo Kursk faces CCC Polkowice in EuroLeague and has a Russian League bye.
LINDSAY ALLEN #15 – Dynamo Moscow
Russia-PBL (2-7, Ranked 10th)
EEWBL (0-3, Ranked T-14th)
Recent Results
Nov. 25 vs. UMMC: L, 70-85 (15 pts, 6-11 FG, 3 3FG, 9 ast, 30 min) | BOX SCORE
Dec. 3 vs. Dynamo Kursk: L, 66-92 (20 pts, 8-11 FG, 3 3FG, 5 reb, 4 ast, 2 stl, 27 min) | BOX SCORE
|
GM |
MIN |
FGA |
FGM |
FG% |
3FG |
3FGA |
3FG% |
FTM |
FTA |
FT% |
REB |
AST |
STL |
BLK |
PTS |
| #15 L. ALLEN (Russia) |
9 |
29.3 |
34 |
77 |
.442 |
8 |
13 |
.615 |
23 |
30 |
.767 |
4.2 |
4.7 |
1.0 |
0.0 |
12.8 |
| #15 L. ALLEN (EEWBL) |
3 |
29.3 |
7 |
15 |
.467 |
1 |
1 |
1.000 |
9 |
11 |
.818 |
3.7 |
4.0 |
1.7 |
0.3 |
8.7 |
Dynamo Moscow played the top two teams in the Russian Premier League over consecutive weeks, and suffered a 92-66 loss to Epiphanny Prince and Dynamo Kursk over the weekend. Lindsay Allen filled up the stat sheet for Moscow, scoring 20 points while connecting on 3-of-4 shots from beyond the arc, also grabbing 5 rebounds with 4 assists and 2 steals. She is averaging 12.8 ppg, 4.7 apg, and 4.2 rpg so far this season with one game remaining until the midway point of the regular season. Moscow will face Spartak N. on Dec. 17 before going on a break until the start of 2018.
BRIA HARTLEY #14 – Mersin
Turkey-KBSL (4-4, Ranked T-6th)
EuroCup Group B (4-2, 2nd)
Recent Results
Nov. 30 vs. Enisey: L, 70-75 (10 pts, 3-10 FG, 5 reb, 5 ast, 30 min) | BOX SCORE
Dec. 3 vs. Yakin Dogu: L, 75-89 (15 pts, 7-17 FG, 2 reb, 6 ast, 3 stl, 1 blk, 33 min) | BOX SCORE
|
GM |
MIN |
FGA |
FGM |
FG% |
3FG |
3FGA |
3FG% |
FTM |
FTA |
FT% |
REB |
AST |
STL |
BLK |
PTS |
| #14 B. HARTLEY (Turkey) |
8 |
30.0 |
37 |
86 |
.430 |
15 |
47 |
.319 |
22 |
30 |
.733 |
3.0 |
3.8 |
1.9 |
0.6 |
17.6 |
| #14 B. HARTLEY (EuroCup) |
6 |
29.8 |
22 |
53 |
.415 |
12 |
31 |
.387 |
24 |
31 |
.774 |
3.3 |
4.2 |
1.8 |
0.2 |
17.3 |
Mersin dropped a pair of games last week, falling to Enisey in its last group stage game of the EuroCup Tournament, 75-70, and to Yakin Dogu, who is tied for 1st in the the Turkish League standings, 89-75. Despite the loss to Enisey, Mersin still finished 2nd in Group B and will move on to the 1st round of the EuroCup playoffs, starting a home-and-home series against MBA on Dec. 14. Against Enisey, Hartley scored 10 points with 5 rebounds and 5 assists, while in the Yakin Dogu matchup she netted 15 points, dishing out 6 assists with 3 steals. Mersin will face yet another difficult Turkish League game as they meet up with Hatay, also tied for 1st, over the weekend.
KIA VAUGHN #8 – Fenerbahce
Turkey-KBSL (7-1, Ranked T-1st)
EuroLeague Group B (4-2, Ranked T-2nd)
Recent Results
Nov. 29 vs. Yakin Dogu: L, 61-72 (12 pts, 5-11 FG, 8 reb, 2 ast, 1 blk, 37 min) | BOX SCORE
Dec. 2 vs. Botas: L, 69-78 (10 pts, 4-9 FG, 11 reb, 3 ast, 3 stl, 32 min) | BOX SCORE
|
GM |
MIN |
FGA |
FGM |
FG% |
3FG |
3FGA |
3FG% |
FTM |
FTA |
FT% |
REB |
AST |
STL |
BLK |
PTS |
| #8 K. VAUGHN (Turkey) |
8 |
27.9 |
39 |
66 |
.591 |
0 |
0 |
.000 |
12 |
18 |
.667 |
6.5 |
1.4 |
1.8 |
0.3 |
11.3 |
| #8 K. VAUGHN (EuroLeague) |
6 |
31.8 |
21 |
49 |
.429 |
0 |
1 |
.000 |
12 |
15 |
.800 |
6.0 |
0.8 |
1.2 |
0.5 |
9.0 |
Fenerbahce played a pair of Turkish League teams this week and lost both, falling to Yakin Dogu in EuroLeague action and Botas in the Turkish League. They are now in a 3-way tie for 1st in the Turkish League along with Yakin Dogu and Hatay, and are 4-2 in EuroLeague Group B, in a log jam for 2nd place with four other teams. In the 72-61 loss to Yakin Dogu, Kia Vaughn scored 12 points with 8 rebounds, a pair of assists, and a blocked shot. In the meeting with Kiah Stokes and Botas, Vaughn had a double-double of 10 points and 11 assists, while Stokes finished with 12 points, 7 rebounds, and 3 blocked shots in a win. This week, Fenerbahce will face Wisla Krakow in EuroLeague and Cukurova in Turkey.
KIAH STOKES #41 – Botas
Turkey-KBSL (4-4, T-6th)
Recent Results
Nov. 25 vs. Galatasaray: L, 63-70 (18 pts, 19 reb, 2 stl, 2 blk, 33 min) | BOX SCORE
Dec. 2 vs. Fenerbahce: W, 78-69 (12 pts, 6-10 FG, 7 reb, 1 ast, 3 blk, 38 min) | BOX SCORE
|
GM |
MIN |
FGA |
FGM |
FG% |
3FG |
3FGA |
3FG% |
FTM |
FTA |
FT% |
REB |
AST |
STL |
BLK |
PTS |
| #41 K. STOKES (Turkey) |
8 |
35.4 |
51 |
83 |
.614 |
0 |
0 |
.000 |
20 |
28 |
.714 |
15.1 |
0.9 |
1.1 |
2.6 |
15.3 |
Kiah Stokes once again helped lead her team to a big league victory as she scored 12 points with 7 rebounds and 3 blocked shots in a 78-69 win over 1st place Fenerbahce and Liberty teammate Kia Vaughn over the weekend. Botas improved to 4-4, good for a tie for 6th place in the league standings, with Stokes averaging 15.3 ppg, 15.1 rpg, and 2.6 bpg, leading the league in blocked shots and ranking 2nd in rebounding. Botas will match up with OGM Orman this week and Bria Hartley and Mersin the following week.
SHAVONTE ZELLOUS #1 – Besiktas
Turkey-KBSL (4-4, T-6th)
EuroCup Group A (1-5, T-3rd)
Recent Results
Nov. 30 vs. Gorzow Wlkp.: L, 65-71 (9 pts, 2-5 FG, 4 reb, 1 ast, 35 min) | BOX SCORE
Dec. 3 vs. Bornova: W, 92-55 (17 pts, 7-10 FG, 4 reb, 6 ast, 1 stl, 22 min) | BOX SCORE
|
GM |
MIN |
FGA |
FGM |
FG% |
3FG |
3FGA |
3FG% |
FTM |
FTA |
FT% |
REB |
AST |
STL |
BLK |
PTS |
| #1 S. ZELLOUS (Turkey) |
3 |
25.0 |
12 |
22 |
.545 |
4 |
8 |
.500 |
21 |
21 |
1.000 |
7.7 |
5.3 |
0.7 |
0.3 |
19.0 |
| #1 S. ZELLOUS (EuroCup) |
2 |
35.0 |
4 |
13 |
.308 |
2 |
4 |
.500 |
6 |
10 |
.600 |
4.5 |
1.0 |
0.5 |
0.5 |
10.0 |
Besiktas split two games this week seeing its run in the EuroCup tournament come to an end but maintained its roll in the Turkish League picking up a big win over Bornova. In the final EuroCup group stage game, Besiktas fell to Gorzow 71-65 with Zellous scoring 9 points with 4 rebounds. In the win over Bornova, Zellous finished with 17 points, 4 rebounds, and 6 assists, with Besiktas evening its league record to 4-4 and moving into a tie for 6th place in the standings. Besiktas will be back in action this week against Istanbul Univ. and faces Adana ASKI the week after.
