In a Fonbet Russian Championship – Premier League game in Yekaterinburg, UMMC defeated NIKA-Luzales from Syktyvkar 80–69, bringing an end to the Komi team’s winning streak.

Quarter scores: 21–13, 22–15, 18–19, 19–22

The hosts got off to a fast start in the first quarter. On the very first second, Alex Bentley knocked down a long-range shot, setting the tone for the entire stretch. The Foxes then played more aggressively on defense and pushed the tempo in transition. After a brief scoring lull, both teams traded three-pointers, but closer to the buzzer the Yekaterinburg team increased defensive pressure and went on a decisive 12-point run. The opening quarter ended 21–13, giving the league leaders a confident early advantage.

In the second quarter, Megan Walker continued the show. By the start of the period, the American already had 11 points — everything was going in, from drives to three-pointers. The Lynxes tried to fight back, reducing the deficit to six, but Dmitrii Donskov’s team quickly halted the visitors’ momentum. The Foxes controlled the closing minutes again, winning the quarter 22–15 and heading into halftime with a commanding 43–28 lead.

After the break, Syktyvkar came out more aggressive. Walker opened the scoring again, but NIKA-Luzales responded with a long-range shot from Musina, sparking a tense battle. By the middle of the quarter, the hosts had built another 9-point run, but then allowed their opponents to cut the gap. The visitors won the third quarter narrowly (19–18), but the Ural team still held a solid 61–47 lead.

In the final quarter, the Lynxes refused to give up. Olga Doronina’s team took advantage of a series of turnovers and closed the gap to just 10 points, making the crowd nervous. However, the reigning champions calmly relied on their experience: controlling the pace, securing rebounds, and sinking free throws restored a comfortable margin. The final buzzer confirmed the hosts’ victory — 80–69.

UMMC: Walker (18 points, 6 rebounds), Bentley (13 points, 5 rebounds), Lisec (13 points, 3 rebounds), Nizamova (10 points, 3 rebounds).

NIKA-Luzales: Musina (16 points, 6 rebounds), Henderson and Labutina (15 points each).

The Foxes will play their next game on the road in Kursk on January 19, facing the local Dynamo. Tip-off is at 19:00 (MSK).