Career night for rising star Rupert, Kursk end slump, Sopron go three in a row

MUNICH (Germany) - In an eventful Tuesday evening, teenager Iliana Rupert had a night to remember with Bourges Basket, while Dynamo Kursk snapped their losing streak and Sopron Basket made it three wins in a row.

A minute of silence was observed before the start of every EuroLeague Women game to honor the memory of two-time Olympic gold medalist, five-time NBA champion and FIBA Basketball World Cup Ambassador Kobe Bryant, who perished in a helicopter crash on Sunday. 

Rising star Rupert had the biggest night of her burgeoning career with Bourges as the 18-year-old landed 23 points from a superb 73 percent shooting effort in an 88-50 win at Geleck Koleji Cukurova. There was also another nice offering from the in-form Canadian Natalie Achonwa who netted 25 points.

Epiphanny Prince chose a good time to come up with her best performance of the season as she got close to a triple-double with a stellar 18 points, 8 rebounds and 8 assists. That fueled Dynamo Kursk in their 76-64 success against Spar Citylift Girona and also prevented her team from suffering a fifth straight defeat.

 
Sopron Basket chalked up a third straight victory as they continued to build a hot streak by climbing past Arka Gdynia 77-67 on the road. Jelena Brooks and Candice Dupree used their experience to good effect by combining for 35 points for the visitors who are now up to second place in the Group, The loss was tough on Barbora Balintova, who had a terrific 19 points and 10 assists in defeat for Gdynia. 

For the second week running, BLMA were denied the win needed to advance to the Quarter-Finals of the competition, this time falling 78-77 in an agonizing defeat to fellow French side LDLC Asvel Feminin who improved their chances of a place in the Play-Offs. Lyon were led by Helena Ciak who recorded 22 points and 8 rebounds, while Shay Peddy showed out with 30 points for BLMA.

 
Valeriane Vukosavljevic and Alyssa Thomas caught fire for ZVVZ USK Praha as they moved their way past Nadezhda 86-67 in Orenburg. The former was not far from a triple-double after accumulating 19 points, 9 assists and 8 rebounds in the contest, while Thomas lit it up with a monumental 18 points, 19 rebounds and 6 assists.

Fenerbhace Oznur Kablo are in complete control of Group  B after they eased past Famila Schio 75-54, with Cecilia Zandalasini scoring 22 points against her former club and Alina Iagupova weighing in with a game-high 29 points.

 
UMMC avenged their famous and surprise loss in the Latvian capital earlier in the season by taking down TTT Riga 87-67. Brittney Griner is playing wonderfully right now and after throwing down a dunk in the Russian Premier League last weekend, stepped off the court in this one with 19 points from 70 percent shooting, along with 10 rebounds.

Finally, Reyer Venezia claimed a pulsating and nerve-shredding 61-58 win at Castors Braine. Anete Steinberga was the pick of the crop after racking up 14 points, 7 rebounds and 4 assists.

FIBA