In a regular game of the FONBET Russian Championship – Superleague, the junior “Foxes” lost to Spartak from St. Petersburg in the final seconds, with a score of 83:84.
Scores by quarter: 31:26, 24:17, 16:22, 12:19
The game began at a frantic pace. The St. Petersburg team started with an incredible run, hitting five consecutive three-pointers, two of which were made by former UMMC junior player Daria Sharova. Despite this strong start, the players of Elena Kuzmina quickly recovered. In the fifth minute, Golubeva not only tied the game but also gave her team the lead with a long-range shot. Then the home team took control, and Maria Sedyakina scored twice from beyond the arc, securing an 8-point advantage. The first quarter ended with a score of 31:26 in favor of Yekaterinburg.
In the second quarter, the juniors continued to show confidence. Alena Burmakina made a three-pointer, Golubeva attacked flawlessly in the paint and from beyond the arc, bringing her personal tally to 16 points. Maria Sedyakina shone on defense, making several important steals. The guests struggled with their shooting accuracy, which prevented them from narrowing the gap. The teams went into halftime with a comfortable lead for the juniors - 55:43.
The third quarter began with the same confidence from the home team. Sedyakina was once again accurate from beyond the arc, giving her teammates an emotional boost. However, the St. Petersburg team found a way to put up a fight and gradually started to reduce the deficit. Their persistence earned them a small victory in this segment, but the overall score still favored UMMC-Junior - 71:65.
The final quarter turned into a true drama. Spartak managed to catch up with their opponents and, by the middle of the quarter, even took a two-point lead. The game became a back-and-forth battle, where every shot was crucial. In the final seconds, the players of Evgeni Korshunov showed nerves of steel. The final score was 83:84 in favor of the guests, leaving the juniors without a victory in this thrilling game.
The top scorer in the squad of the “Foxes” was Maria Sedyakina with 23 points, 8 rebounds, and 9 assists. Sofia Golubeva contributed 18 points and 5 rebounds. Alena Burmakina posted a double-double with 14 points and 10 rebounds. Svetlana Samusheva scored 12 points and grabbed 3 rebounds.
In the squad of Spartak, Polina Veselova scored 19 points and had 4 rebounds, Daria Sharova accumulated 18 points and 5 rebounds, Gulnaz Siraeva added 14 points, and Anna Borodina scored 13.
The teams will play again tomorrow, with the game starting at 12:00.