Euroleague 3/2009 - Krakow 77, Villeneuve d'Ascq 71

Agnieszka Majewska of Krakow and Elodie Bertal of Villeneuve d'Ascq contest the ball.

I love the spin that the FibaEurope web page put on this game - namely, that a lot of teams might have had hopes for beating Krakow (3-0), a team which one could assume would be a weaker successor to now-defunct CSKA. Instead, Krakow is now undefeated, their latest victim being Villeneuve d'Ascq (1-2) in a 77-71 loss on Villeneuve d'Ascq's own home court.

The box score, play-by-play, a write-up and a small gallery are all here.

The game was tied 11-11 with 4:57 left in the first quarter, but Krakow would only score one more bucket in the first ten minutes as Villeneuve d'Ascq went on a mini 9-2 run to close out the quarter. The important run, however, came in the second quarter. Down 28-20 with six minutes before halftime, Krakow went on a 14-0 run with Ewelina Kobrin scoring seven points during the run. They led 38-35 and never lost the lead.

It got close, however. Villeneuve d'Ascq managed to close within a couple of baskets at least three times, the latest being a 75-71 deficit with just 16 seconds left. However, Marta Fernandez of Krakow managed to make a basket with five
seconds left to insure the 77-71 victory.

A look at the Four Factors of the Game:

Field goal percentage: Krakow 53 percent, Villeneuve d'Ascq 44 percent. Krakow was only 2-for-7 from 3-point range, but Villeneuve d'Ascq was 7-for-25.
Turnovers: Villeneuve d'Ascq 11, Krakow 15. Liren Cohen had six turnovers for Krakow .
Offensive rebound percentage: Krakow 19 percent, Villeneuve d'Ascq 16 percent. Not exactly a clash of the power forwards. Ewelina Kobrin had three of Krakow 's five offensive rebounds.
Free throws: Krakow 13-for-15, Villeneuve d'Ascq 2-for-2. Yes, 2-for-2. Krakow only fouled six times on Villeneuve d'Ascq's home court. Free throws might have been why Krakow won the game.

Key performances from both teams....

Villeneuve d'Ascq

Elodie Bertal: 15 points.
Jolene Anderson: 10 points, 10 rebounds, 6 assists. Anderson played for the Connecticut Sun in 2008.
Lady Comfort: 14 points and 4 rebounds for the 2008 graduate of Temple .

Krakow

Ewelina Kobryn: 24 points and 10 rebounds. Kobryn was 10-for-11 at the free throw line.
Janell Burse: 15 points, 10 rebounds. 6-for-11 shooting.
Marta Fernandez: 12 points, 4 assists.
Iziane Castro Marques: 2 points in 26 minutes. 1-for-4 shooting.