UMMC Juggernaut Rolls Into Final
Turning Point: Bourges were magnificent for the first 17 minutes and still level at 25-25, but UMMC took complete control with a quite devastating 18-0 run either side of half-time, holding Bourges scoreless for six minutes.
Game Heroes: Candace Parker was on-fire and finished with 24 points from nine of eleven floor shooting, completed a sparkling double-double with 14 rebounds and also added four blocks, three assists and two steals.
Stats Don't Lie: UMMC have still not given up more than 45 points in a game all week. However, they gave up seven offensive rebounds during the opening 15 minutes of the game and will need to avoid a repeat in the final.
A sensational performance by Candace Parker was the highlight for UMMC Ekaterinburg as they punched their ticket for a first EuroLeague Women Final in a decade with 73-44 success against gutsy Bourges Basket.
The forward posted one of her best displays in a UMMC vest, as the hosts overcome a sloppy start to eventually overpower an already depleted Bourges team, cruelly denied the use of French national team forward Endene Miyem due to a back injury.
Parker was just happy to now be able to focus on a title game after a string of third placed finishes off the back of semi-final disappointments.
"I wouldn't say there's a sense of relief, but it's just really nice to get the third place monkey off our back," smiled the forward.
"Playing in Sunday's Final is what we have been working for all season."
Despite the final margin, Bourges made life difficult for much of the first half, as UMMC showed signs of some early nerves as they failed to settle.
But that was also due to some brilliant offensive rebounding by Johannah Leedham and Stephany Skrba for the French side, epitomising their aggression and spirit.
Bourges started with the first nine points of the game and even when UMMC finally got moving with eleven points in a row, they held firm and even led 18-16 after the opening period.
There was then woe for UMMC on two counts, as Ewelina Kobryn rolled her ankle and Bourges leaked only five points in five minutes before teenager Christelle Diallo put them in front at 23-21.
But, with the game tied moments later, UMMC clicked into top gear either side of the interval, ending any hope Bourges had of a completing a major shock. They began to pick their opponents apart and a 22-8 third quarter killed-off the French club completely.
Fittingly, on her 100th appearance in EuroLeague Women and against her former team, Anete Jekabsone drained successive scores from long-range at the beginning of the final frame to get the party started early in front of another packed house enjoying their team moving to within touching distance of the title they have craved for so long.
Historical Night For Fenerbahce
Turning Point: With the game tied at 43-43, Fenerbahce exploded with a stunning 21-5 run across the third and fourth quarter break, to establish a double-digit lead and they never had cause to look back.
Game Heroes: Anastasiya Verameyenka was terrific at both ends of the floor. She finished with an efficient 10 points but came up with five blocks and those defensive plays were significant. Angel McCoughtry meanwhile had a double-double of 17 points and 14 rebounds.
Stats Don't Lie: Good Angels Kosice average 76.8 points-per-game so they were a mammoth 20 points down on their average, mainly due to great defence by Fenerbahce. Kosice managed only five points in a disastrous ten minute spell during the second half.
Fenerbahce will be the first Turkish club to contest the EuroLeague Women Final after a 68-56 win against Good Angels Kosice booked their spot in Sunday's title game against UMMC Ekaterinburg.
Once again the Istanbul club had to come from behind having trailed 35-28 at the midway point of the game and whilst hardly ideal, Angel McCoughtry believes the fight back underlined the team ethic of Fenerbahce.
"We had another bad start to the game, but we came back strongly in the second half and that again showed our strength and unity as a team," insisted McCoughtry.
"I can't believe we have made history for Turkish women's basketball and that we will now get to play in the Championship game.
"We played much better defence and with energy in the second half and that was really important for us."
The night started very brightly for Kosice, with some excellent early work under the basket from Petra Kulichova helping them establish an 11-6 advantage - although Fenerbahce whittled it down to a solitary point at 15-14 after ten minutes had elapsed.
Kosice then made successive scores from three-point range via Miljana Bojovic and Helena Sverrisdottir, to initiate an impressive 10-0 run which put them 27-16 ahead and had Fenerbahce calling a much needed time-out.
It proved a smart move as Fenerbahce trimmed the lead down to 35-28 at the half, although they still had work to do when they returned in shackling Plenette Pierson and Kulichova who had combined for 20 points.
And, the pair started the second half by wrestling each other for an offensive rebound, showing the voracious appetite Kosice have had all year for crashing the offensive glass.
It didn't prevent a Fenerbahce revival as Cappie Pondexter made a three-pointer to make it a one-shot game, with the same player levelling matters at 39, before promptly handing her team the lead from the free-throw line.
Things began to disintegrate offensively for Kosice in a big way from this point onwards, head coach Maros Kovacik being handed a technical foul towards the end of the third period after showing his frustration.
As Good Angels tried desperately to fight their way back after falling behind by double-digits early in the fourth, they couldn't breach the improved Fenerbahce defence with the kind of regularity they needed.
Consequently their chances of making the Final rapidly ebbed away, to leave Fenerbahce celebrating their historic moment and contemplating the prospect of facing the hosts on Sunday.
EUROLEAGUE WOMEN
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