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The semifinals of the EuroLeague Women Final Four are now complete. Here’s what went down:
With big third quarter, Dynamo Kursk blows out USK Praha, 84-67
In the first matchup of the day, Dynamo Kursk blew out USK Praha to advance to the championship. Breanna Stewart dominated with 32 points, 5 rebounds, 2 assists, 3 steals and 2 blocks for the victors. Natasha Howard added 22 points and 10 rebounds for Dynamo Kursk.
For USK Praha, Alyssa Thomas scored 14 points and grabbed 9 rebounds. However, she was held to just 5-of-16 shooting. Isabelle Harrison was also held to a low-scoring outing, with just 6 points on 3-of-11 shooting.
Though this game was a blowout, it was relatively close in the first half, with Dynamo Kursk leading 43-38. In fact, there were 15 lead changes. But a big 24-9 run in the third quarter decided the outcome of the game. Even then, Stewart still scored 11 points in the first quarter alone.
.@breannastewart with 11 PTS in the opening quarter already ! #EuroLeagueWomen
— EuroLeague Women (@EuroLeagueWomen) April 12, 2019
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If Dynamo Kursk wins the EuroLeague Women championship, Stewart would be in a great position to win her fifth MVP award within a year.
Courtney Vandersloot leads UMMC to 81-57 rout of Sopron Basket
In a rematch of 2018’s EuroLeague Women championship, UMMC Ekaterinburg played Sopron Basket. And for the second year in a row, the Russian superpower team won.
Unlike the Dynamo Kursk victory, UMMC had a more even team effort. Courtney Vandersloot erupted for 15 points, 8 rebounds and 5 assists while Brittney Griner led UMMC with 19 points and 8 rebounds. She also blocked three shots, including this one:
BG with the and the staredown . #EuroLeagueWomen@brittneygriner @wnba @PhoenixMercury
— EuroLeague Women (@EuroLeagueWomen) April 12, 2019
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For Sopron, Yvonne Tuner led with 15 points in the loss.
UMMC and Sopron were in a tight first half with UMMC threatening to blow the game open in the first quarter and Sopron making a big 25-15 run in the second quarter. But like the Dynamo Kursk versus USK Praha game, UMMC put on a defensive clinic on their Hungarian foes, going on a 39-20 run in the second half.
The championship game is Sunday, April 14, at 2:30 p.m. ET, and it will be followed by a battle for third place. All EuroLeague Women Final Four Games can be streamed for free on FIBA’s YouTube channel.