EuroLeague Women Final Four: Fener dethrones UMMC, Kursk survives Dupree's 39

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Jantel Lavender sure knows a thing or two about winning. After helping the Los Angeles Sparks secure a WNBA title last year, the center led Turkish side Fenerbahce to a 70-61 win over defending champion UMMC Ekaterinburg in the 2016-17 EuroLeague Women Final Four on Friday.

Lavender finished with a double-double of 21 points on 10-of-16 shooting and 10 rebounds. The victory dethroned the defending champion and pushed Fenerbahce to the final on Sunday, April 16.


Allie Quigley added 17 points and three assists. Anastasiya Verameyenka had 13 points, six rebounds, and two blocks. Candace Parker, who was acquired prior to the end of the regular season, hauled down 15 boards.

UMMC, the hosts of the Final Four, started out strong with Diana Taurasi getting her touches early in the game. Taurasi outscored Fenerbahce by herself, 11-10 after the opening quarter. The Russian club eventually took a 33-28 lead into the halftime break with Taurasi scoring 15 first half points.

That was before Lavender came to life in the second half. Fenerbahce punished UMMC with their pick and rolls, exposing the inability of their opponent's guards and main center Brittney Griner to defend those plays effectively.

A 15-2 run gave Fenerbahce a double-digit advantage at 49-36 although UMMC answered right away with seven straight including a buzzer-beater by Emma Meesseman to cut the deficit down to just a one-possession game, 49-46.

But Fenerbahce continued making UMMC pay in the final period. Lavender continued to dive well to the hoop while her team moved the ball well.

Fenerbahce regrew their lead, with a dagger triple by Quigley under the final two minutes making it out of reach for UMMC as the advantage became 68-57.

Taurasi led UMMC with 26 points on 8-of-15 shooting from the field, but Nika Baric was the only other double-digit scorer with 11 points. Kristi Toliver and Brittney Griner each scored just seven points while Meesseman only had two. The three all shot below 50 percent.

Fenerbahce had a commanding 47-27 disparity in rebounds, including 17-6 offensive. They also controlled the paint with a 36-18 lead in inside scoring, thanks mainly to Lavender getting most of her baskets around the rim.


In the second game, Dynamo Kursk had to dig deep to preserve their undefeated run in the season, advancing to the final with an 87-80 overtime win over ZVVZ USK Prague.

Angel McCoughtry delivered a clutch performance, scoring 28 points on 10-of-16 shooting including eight in overtime. She added three rebounds, five assists, three steals, and three blocks.

Kursk survived a performance for the ages by Candice Dupree, who exploded for 39 points on 15-of-22 shooting for Prague. Everyone knows what the forward is capable of doing, but certainly no one expected her to go nova against Kursk.



Dupree poured 22 points in the first half alone, as the game opened with an incredible back-and-forth showdown.

USK Prague distanced themselves from Kursk in the third, with Nneka Ogwumike nursing four fouls. Still, Kursk kept themselves in the game, as it went down the wire.

Marta Xargay's driving lay-up gave Prague a 77-76 lead in regulation, but Tania Vidmer made a free throw with just 1.6 seconds to go to send the game to extension.

In overtime, McCoughtry gave Kursk a 79-77 lead on a lay-up. Dupree answered to tie the score again, but McCoughtry would score six of the next eight including one off a steal to cap the comeback for her squad.

Maria Vadeeva provided huge support inside for Kursk with 18 points and eight boards. Dupree added 13 rebounds for Prague. Marta Xargay had 16 points and five boards.

An interesting subplot of the final is that Ogwumike, Parker, Lavender, and Sandrine Gruda all have a chance to win another title in the same calendar year.

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