Rachel Theriot had an amazing day. American guard posted a triple double to lead Tsmoki Minsk (2-2) to a 74-69 win over Young Angels Košice (0-1) on Thursday, December 2, at the Liepāja Olympic Center in western Latvia.
Players of the game
Rachel Theriot earned a second triple double in the EWBL history. Nebraska standout had 15 points, 10 rebounds and 11 assists.
The first triple-double belongs to Gunta Baško. TTT forward had 10 points, 10 rebounds and 10 assists in a 88-42 win over Astana Tigers on January 14, 2018, at the Salaspils sports center.
Theriot became the 12th player of the EWBL to dish out 11 or more assists in a single game. Olga Dubrovina from Astana Tigers holds the record – she had 15 assists in a 67-59 win over 1182 Tallinn.
Theriot also stole the ball four times and forced five fouls for a efficiency rating of 16.
Yana Makutsa posted a double-double. Minsk center scored 10 points and grabbed 10 rebounds for a efficiency rating of 16.
Two more Tsmoki players finished in double figures. Ala Murauskaya and Darya Mahalias scored 13 points each.
Young Angels were led by the two young Americans.
Valerie Higgins scored a game high 22 points. University of the Pacific graduate – and a former USC Trojan – added nine rebounds, three steals and nine forced fouls for a efficiency rating of 23.
Center Channon Fluker had 17 points and 10 rebounds. Cal State at Northridge graduate also forced five fouls.
Dominika Urbanova contributed with four points, seven rebounds and five assists.
Key stats
Tsmoki Minsk had a dream start and led by 24 points (39-15) after 14 minutes of play.
Higgins and Fluker cut the gap to 11 points (42-31) with 01:48 to go in the first half.
A three pointer by Muravskaya and two free throws by Irina Venskaya renewed a 16 point advantage for the Dragons 47-31.
The Angels continued the comeback efforts and came as close as two points (67-65) with 03:36 left after a three pointer by Higgins.
Darya Mahalias answered with a game winning three pointer in the next possession for Minsk 70-65.
Higgins missed a field goal attempt to tie the game at 72 and Emma Dulovicova received an unsportmanlike foul to erase the last hope of the Angels.
Young Angels won the battle of rebounds (45-48) and scored more points in the paint (26-44) but more often turned the ball over (13-17).
Tsmoki Minsk made 10-of-32 three point shots compared to a 2-of-10 accuracy for Košice.
Photos: Ģirts Gertsons
Game notes
Valerie Higgins was selected in the third round of the 2021 WNBA draft. The New York Liberty drafted her with the 25th pick.
Tsmoki Minsk may have guaranteed a playoff spot with the win.
Schedule (local time, CET+1h)
Tuesday, November 30
Liepāja/LSSS vs Tsmoki Minsk 49:60
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RRVxYMnKJHg
Thursday, December 2
Tsmoki Minsk – Young Angels 74:69
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HHaxbkYxd5I
18:30 Liepāja/LSSS – SBŠ Ostrava
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=j3gWSMCBkcQ
Friday, December 3
16:00 SBŠ Ostrava – Tsmoki Minsk
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=oGuqZTvBtTw
18:30 Young Angels – Liepāja/LSSS
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8YtC1EB8uQs
STANDINGS, as of November 30
Group B
Nika Syktyvkar 2-0 (+70)
Peresvet SFEDU 2-0 (+23)
Tsmoki Minsk 1-2 (-40
Liepāja/LSSS 0-3 (-53)
Young Angels Košice 0-0
SBŠ Ostrava 0-0
FORMAT
Playoffs: January 17 – February 28, 2022; best-of-two
A1 – B4, A2 – B3, B2 – A3, B1 – A4
Final Four: March 25-27, 2022
Our geography
EWBL member countries so far: Belarus, Czech Republic, Estonia, Hungary, Kazakhstan, Latvia, Lebanon, Lithuania, Netherlands, Poland, Russia, Slovakia, Sweden, Ukraine, Turkey.
Follow us on
Website www.ewbl.eu
Facebook https://www.facebook.com/EWBL
YouTube https://www.youtube.com/EWBLLive
Live TV http://ewbl.eu/live-tv/
#StrongTogether #EWBL #Season7
Comments