The players from Yekaterinburg extended their winning streak to 14 games in the Fonbet Russian Championship - Premier League.
Scores by quarter: 20:22, 7:27, 18:26, 21:18
The start of the game was tense. The team of Dmitrii Donskov immediately showed they were there for the win, but the home team wasn’t willing to give up the initiative without a fight. Alex Bentley took on the role of leader from the first minutes, scoring 7 points, and an accurate shot from Anastasiia Shilova increased the lead to 6 points. However, Elena Mukhina from the Siberian team hit the basket twice in a row, reducing the gap. The first ten minutes ended with a score of 20:22 in favor of the guests from Yekaterinburg.
In the second quarter, the “Foxes” took full control of the game. Eva Lisec made two scoring plays – one from long range and another on a drive, extending the lead to 10 points. Jovana Nogic and Alex Bentley supported the offensive surge, adding 8 points between them. The advantage of UMMC became overwhelming, surpassing 20 points. The teams went into halftime with the score at 27:49, leaving the Siberian team with only a hope for a miracle.
After the break, the game continued to unfold under the guidance of the reigning champions. Fast breaks, confident defense, and team chemistry left the home team no chances. In the final minutes of the third quarter, Elena Beglova stood out with several effective attacks, pushing the lead to a crushing +30. The quarter ended with a score of 45:75, removing any doubts about the winner long before the final buzzer.
In the final segment, the “Foxes” played more calmly, allowing the home team to slightly reduce the gap. The players of Elena Shakirova, inspired by the support from the stands, outscored their opponents in this quarter. However, overcoming a deficit of more than 20 points was impossible – UMMC confidently brought the game to a victory. The final buzzer marked a score of 66:93 in favor of the Ural team.
The top scorer for UMMC was Maria Klyundikova with 19 points and 4 rebounds. Alex Bentley had 16 points, and Anastasiia Shilova added 12.
In the squad of the hosts, their newcomer, Malury Bates, recorded a double-double with 16 points and 10 rebounds. Elena Mukhina scored 15 points, while Polina Kuznetsova had 12.
The “Foxes” will play their next game in 2025 on the road. On January 5, in Krasnoyarsk they will face the local team Enisey. The broadcast begins at 17:00 (Yekaterinburg time).