Brionna Jones and Erica Wheeler lead Nadezhda to EuroCup Women title in 75-57 win over BLMA

Russian team Nadezhda started its continental season in EuroLeague Women but couldn’t make the knockout stages. They turned that disappointment into redemption by winning the EuroCup Women Finals against BLMA on Wednesday.

In Game 2, they secured a 75-57 blowout on the road, in Montpellier, France. The aggregate score was 146-132.

This is Nadezhda’s first EuroCup Women title.

Nadezhda came into this game coming off a 75-71 loss at home last week. Early on in the first half, the score looked rather close until the tram made a late run heading into halftime, for a 35-27 lead. But in the second half, Nadezhda’s lead expanded to double digits and the players didn’t let their feet off the gas. Nadezhda put on a defensive clinic on BLMA, holding them to 33 percent shooting overall and out-rebounding them, 52-33.

Sun forward Brionna Jones and Fever guard Erica Wheeler led Nadezhda to victory by scoring 21 points each. Jones also grabbed 12 rebounds for a double-double, while Wheeler grabbed 8 boards of her own. The pair shined in their last game of continental play, showing a great deal of chemistry with plays like this one, on the fast break:

Or this play by Wheeler:

For BLMA, Storm guard Sami Whitcomb scored 7 points on 2-of-11 shooting. Despite her off night as a shooter, she still contributed in other areas: grabbing 9 rebounds and dishing 3 assists.

Jones, Wheeler and Whitcomb all played major roles in European play this season and helped lead their teams to the Finals in one of the continent’s most prestigious titles. Hopefully, these performances can help them start strong in the 2019 WNBA season in just a few weeks.