The reigning champions showcased their strength in a Russian Premier League matchup in Yekaterinburg, never allowing Samara to seriously challenge them. The art-themed game had a festive atmosphere, thanks not only to an orchestra performing the national anthem and musical pieces during timeouts, but also to the home team’s impressive performance on the court. UMMC won all four quarters convincingly to seal an 87–41 victory.

Quarter scores: 23–14, 23–9, 19–12, 22–6.

Yekaterinburg made it clear from the opening minutes that they had no intention of giving up control of the game. Bentley drained a three-pointer, while Kosu made her presence felt in the paint, helping the home team build a five-point lead. Samara head coach Dmitry Pivtsaykin quickly called a timeout, but it did little to slow down the Foxes. Shilova and Bentley (again) knocked down shots from beyond the arc. Dmitrii Donskov’s team finished the first quarter ahead 23–14.  

UMMC’s lead grew rapidly in the second quarter. Nogic opened the period with a three-pointer, and Mikhailova answered with a three of her own for Samara. The home team then continued firing from long range, with Walker and Nogic both hitting from downtown. The gap widened to 16 points as Samara struggled against UMMC’s tight defense and couldn’t keep up with the home team’s quick transitions from defense to offense. By halftime, the scoreboard read 46–23.

After the break, Samara tried to get back into the game with long-range shooting. Mikhailova connected from deep once again, and the visitors became more confident attacking from the perimeter. However, Samara’s brief spells of success did not alter the overall course of the game, as UMMC kept dictating the pace. The Foxes closed out the third quarter with a 30-point advantage at 65–35.

The reigning champions didn’t slow down in the fourth quarter, turning the closing minutes into a showcase of their own. Nogic struck again from long range, and Eva Lisec added a three of her own. UMMC won the final quarter 22–6, stretching the margin to 46 points in a commanding 87–41 victory. Maria Klyundikova recorded another double-double with 16 points and 12 rebounds, making it one of the highlights of the win. UMMC’s October homestand is now over. The Foxes’ next stop is Omsk on October 24, followed by a Russian Super Cup matchup in Kursk on October 28.

UMMC: Klyundikova (16 points, 12 rebounds), Nogic (13 points), Kosu (12 points, 6 rebounds), Walker (11 points).

Samara: Shcherbakova (10 points, 7 rebounds), Mikhailova (10 points).