Asia
The league cup concluded in Japan this week with five teams making the final stage. The first game was on Friday as the Sunflowers edged the Sunshine Rabbits. Maki Takada had 30 points in the first game on Saturday to secure a win for the Iris over the Magic. The Sunflowers won again in the other semifinal, getting past the Red Wave. Sunday’s championship game had the Sunflowers completing an impressive weekend by defeating the Iris.
There were three series in Kazakhstan this week as Ertis dropped out of second place after only getting a split against Turan in a Tuesday-Wednesday affair. Zhetisu also got a split against Barsy Atyrau in a Wednesday-Thursday series lifting them into a tie as they try to get out of last place. Astana is still in control at the top of the standings after sweeping Turan in a Saturday-Sunday series.
The week in South Korea started with another S-Birds loss, this time to Woori Bank on Wednesday. BNK won at the Blue Minx on Friday. The Saturday doubleheader started with Hana Bank’s win over Woori Bank and then the S-Birds stunned the Stars, knocking them out of the tie for first place. The Blue Minx edged Woori Bank on Sunday and then BNK avoided the S-Birds upset attempt on Monday.
The week in Lebanon was supposed to feature an undefeated matchup, but Azour spoiled that early, handing Riyadi a loss after withstanding Italee Lucas’s 41 point effort. Riyadi did bounce back, handing Homenetmen their first loss as well. Aminata Ly had a 24 point game and her teammate Ifunaya Okoro had a 32 point effort in a game where Aliyah Matharu scored 34 points for the opposition. Chyna Cornwell hit the boards the hardest with games of 22 and 28 rebounds, the former coming when her teammate Maryam Jomaa scored 30 points.
This week marked the start of the second pod of games in Saudi Arabia with Al Qadsiah hosting all of the teams. With the same group of foreigners, there were big statlines again, but nobody had quite the set of individual performances as Taylor Jones. She warmed up with 36 points and 23 rebounds, followed up with 43 points and 35 rebounds, turned in 44 points and 23 rebounds, and finished with 48 points and 16 rebounds. That last game saw Gabrielle Cooper just miss out on a quadruple-double for the opposition, but she still had 35 points, 20 rebounds, and 10 steals. Kwanza Murray had games of 31 and 32 points and Delicia Washington had a 39 point game.
Americas
In Argentina, Ferro dropped back into a tie in the loss column with Obras in the South after dropping a game while Chanares saw their lead increase in the North. Virginia Peralta scored 31 points in that game for San Jose in their win over Quimsa. Malvina D’Agostino had a 23 rebound effort and Luna Cao grabbed 22 boards in an overtime victory.
There was only one series in Mexico this week and Mineras had a close win over Toritas on Saturday, but then finished the sweep more emphatically on Sunday.
Around Europe
The cup was contested in Slovakia this weekend with Ruzomberok’s big second half getting the win Slavia Banska Bystrica in Saturday’s championship game. Hibernians won one of Malta’s cups on Tuesday even though Olivia Wikstrom grabbed 22 rebounds for Luxol. Montana defeated Beroe to win Bulgaria’s cup as Rilski won the bronze medal game. The regular season finished in Romania this week with Sepsi and Rapid tying for first place in what has been fierce competition in the top half. AEL will face Anagennises Germasogeias in the finals in Cyprus after both teams swept their semifinals.
Chase for Promotion
Tijana Cukic had 32 points in Serbia’s second division. The first stage finished in Portugal’s second division and included a 33 point game from Ines Capela. Judita Girdauskaite had 24 rebounds in Lithuania’s second division. Henda Koita grabbed 22 rebounds in Italy’s second division and Antonia Peresson grabbed 20 rebounds. In Iceland’s second division, Emese Vida had 34 rebounds, Jessica Tomasetti had 31 points, Andrea Jovicevic had 30 points, and Leilani Kapinus had 37 points. Emilie Raynaud had 30 points in an overtime win in France’s second division, which now has a three-way tie for first place between Voiron, Montbrison, and La Tronche Meylan.
Notable Individual Performances
Irina Buhaiova had a 20 rebound game in Ukraine. Amari Heard recorded a 10 point, 13 rebound, 11 assist triple-double in North Macedonia. Avelina Glavan had 34 points in Moldova. Vanessa Jasa had a 30 point game in Latvia. Jennie Simms had a 19 point, 17 rebound, 10 assist triple-double in an overtime loss in Israel. Kristine Anigwe had 31 points in an overtime win in Greece. Makiyah Williams had 31 points in Germany. Sara Puckett had 46 points in Finland as her teammate Jeanae Terry recorded a 26 point, 11 rebound, 11 assist, 12 steal quadruple-double. Hanna Maria Sibul had a 31 point game in Estonia.
Jovana Popovic had 30 points in Serbia, but all of the fireworks came in a double-overtime game. Angela Ladinek had 36 points and her teammate Katarina Ristic dished out 17 assists in the win while Jelena Mitrovic had 31 points and 23 rebounds in the loss. In Montenegro, Zutorya Cook had a 36 point game while Abigael Mbombo had 23 for the opposition and then her teammate Sofija Vuckovic had a 30 point game. Vanja Kaludjerovic finished the round with a 23 point, 10 rebound, 11 assist triple-double. In the Netherlands, Jaela Johnson had 36 points and Kath Van Bennekom had 31 points. In Iceland, Molly Kaiser and Marta Hermida had 34 points each and Brittany Dinkins had 36 points. In Croatia, Brooke Flowers had 20 rebounds and Andela Strize had a 25 point, 11 rebound, 11 assist triple-double. In the Bosnian league, Marijana Sehovac had 32 points and Jovana Milakovic had 20 rebounds.
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