05.02.08 | The UMMC Started Leading in the Play-off Series

The UMMC played their first Euroleague eighth finals match in reduced strength. Penny Taylor, who has left for Australia for family reasons, was not mentioned in the team entry form. However, one of the UMMC leader's absence didn't protect their French opponents from defeat.

Laurent Buffard wards have easily won at home «Lille» (France) by - 96:50, and by doing so they led in the first play-off series – 1:0.

While the hosts were fighting with excitement, the forward Geraldine Robert managed to add her personal statistics and put the hosts' team ahead – 4:0. Nevertheless, Abdou N'diaye wards didn't have much time to celebrate their success. It was Svetlana Abrosimova, who performed a role of shearwater – prophet of a storm - by nailing an accurate three-pointer into the opponents' basket. These points together with Sandrine Gruda's contribution made the first and - seeming unstable at the beginning the UMMC advantage – 5:4. A little bit later a precise shot of Agnieszka Bibrzycka from behind the arc denoted a double UMMC lead – 12:6, and made the mentor of «Lille» claim their first time out. It was only in this period, that the French players could give the UMMC a good run – 20:16.

The retinue from France had nothing to oppose the UMMC play; similar to Napoleon destroyed army, they got off to a fast start, but it took them less then a half to backwater. With that, the UMMC lead was growing like a snowball - 35:23, 58:36 and with the buzzer fell on the heads of Robert and Company – 96:50.

Geraldine, who was sweating «Lille» out in this match, in the end didn't cope with her brimming emotions and was punished by the referees for the unsporting behaviour.

Agnieszka Bibrzycka was the heroine of this match with the game-high 28 points. She was precise in seven three-pointers, while only one - in the first ten - was missed. It would be right to tell, that all the UMMC players were successful in their baskets from behind the arc. The «Foxes» attempted 16 distant shots, 12 of which were made. As for the French team, they managed to make only 5 after 18 attempted.

A new UMMC teammate Yelena Leuchanka debuted in the period and proved to be a hard working center – a missing element for the team. She made 9 points and 6 rebounds. The first half was won by UMMC – 35:23. Robert weighed in with 12 points for the French team.

In the third quarter Bibrzycka continued attacking from the long range and extended the gap to 20 points - 53:33. Lille didn’t manage to change the course of the game - 58:36 by the end of the third period.

The Russian Team dominated the whole fourth quarter and K. Aubert drew the line of the game making 4 free throws – 96:50.

 Laurent Buffard, coach UMMC:
- Over 10 latest days ESB Lille Metropole had 3 tough matches against Fenerbahce, Bourge and UMMC. They played really good and worked hard. Today the first quarter reminded previous games a lot but then we made all the shots. I had some concerns because of the absence of Penny Taylor. We also have two new players and they need some time to become a part of the team. However I’m satisfied with their play. On February 12th the team will be completed. Penny Taylorand Deanna Nolan come back and the team will look a lot different.

Abdou N’dyaye, coach ESB Lille Metropole:
- UMMC is a strong team, they played with a good rhythm and we experience that tonight. We played well in the first half but the second looked worse. We didn’t manage to do anything against Agnieszka Bibrzycka and other good three points shooters from the Russian Team. Their high percentage of three point shoots didn’t promote our way of playing and our mood. The players started their personal game and as the result we were down.

back | return to list