Euroleague 2/2008 - Prague 87, Ros Casares 72

Erika de Souza (right) can only watch as Lindsay Whalen (#7) makes her move....

It's been a rough few days for Ros Casares (1-1 in Euroleague play). Ros Casares built their team to dominate both the Liga Feminina and the Euroleague. But in the last few days, They lost to rival Perfumerias in the LFB Spain - and have now lost their first Euroleague game to Prague (1-1) 87-72 in the Czech Republic.

The game writeup is here. The boxscore is here.

As the game writeup reports, Ros Casares decided to let Greek player Evanthia Maltsi go after 2007-08, and then she came up with USK Prague. Combine:

a) one motivated ex Ros Casares player
b) Lindsay Whalen
c) Sonja Kareta, and
d) Ros Casares's tough loss to Perfumerias.

What you get is Ros Casares losing the game's thread in the third quarter. El Ros led 47-42 in the third, and then Prague turned on the afterburners. Prague finished the third quarter with an 18-4 run and had no trouble winning the fourth to get their first Euroleague win at home. Erika de Souza fouling out after one minute in the fourth quarter didn't help, either.

Prague shot 50 percent compared to Ros Casares's 39 percent. Ros Casares won the turnover battle, but lost two other key battles. In the battle of rebounds, the tough Ros Casares team was outrebounded 44-29. And at the free throw line, 21 of Prague's points came from giveaways by the visitors.

Evanthia Malsi led with 29 points. Lindsay Whalen of the Connecticut Sun had nine points, 14 rebounds, and 7 assists in 37 minutes of play. Sonja Kareta had a double double with 13 points ant 15 rebounds. Swin Cash was a non-factor, scoring six points.

As for Ros Casares, Amaya Valdemora, one of the great players of women's basketball in Spain, led with 17 points. Delisha Milton-Jones (she might be dropping the "Jones") scored 18 points and Raneeka Hodges scored 13 points. Erika de Souza added eight points and six rebounds in 27 minutes of play.

Next Wednesday, Ros Casares has to travel all the way to Russia to play an Ekaterinburg team that is loaded with Penny Taylor, Cappie Pondexter, Ashja Jones, Deanna Nolan and Elena Baranova. The road to Euroleague greatness is never an easy one.