© Tomas Gaubys
Inventa, Kursk defeated Belarusian champions Tsmoki-Minsk 65-54 (21-12, 18-12, 12-11, 14-19) on Sunday in Druskininkai (LTU) to defend the title. Russian team won the Baltic Women’s Basketball League Championship for the second time in its 24-year history.
Inventa (head coach Elen Shakirova, assistant coach Andrey Potapov) led 33-19 in the 16th minute of the final, 39-24 at halftime and increased their lead to 17 points (47-30) in the 27th minute. But Tsmoki-Minsk cut their deficit to 5 points (50-55) with 4 minutes to play. Evgeniia Frolkina scored seven points in a row in the last minutes to led Inventa to victory.
Inventa: Evgeniia Frolkina 12, Kristina Safonova 11 (6 rebounds), Ekaterina Polyashova 9, Anna Burovaya 8, Olga Frolkina 8; Tatiana Sema 12 rebounds.
Tsmoki-Minsk: Kai Afi James 15 (6 rebounds), Viktoryia Hasper 14, Mariia Cheremisina 10, Ala Murauskaya 9 (9 rebounds, 4 assists).
Olimpia, Grodno (BLR) took the bronze for the fourth time. They won the third place match against Lithuanian champions Sūduva, Marijampolė 86-78 (33-16, 13-26, 19-15, 21-21).
Olimpia led 46-42 at halftime, 65-57 after third quarter.
Olimpia: Nataliya Dashkevich 26 (4-of-6 3-pointers, 9 rebounds), Volha Kapylova 14 (8 rebounds), Nadzeya Nadzezhka 14 (8 rebounds), Aryna Masko 12, Sviatlana Kudrashova 9 (7 assists).
Sūduva: Lina Mikelevičienė 26 (6-of-10 3-pointers), Stephanie Gardner 13 (5 assists), Danielle McCray 10 (6 rebounds), Ligita Tamutytė 9, Justina Matuzonytė 6 (7 rebounds), Rita Milieškienė 5 (9 rebounds).
TOP-5 players of the Final Four
MVP – Evgeniia Frolkina (Inventa)
Anna Burovaya (Inventa)
Viktoryia Hasper (Tsmoki-Minsk)
Nataliya Dashkevich (Olimpia)
Lina Mikelevičienė (Sūduva)
Lithuanian teams were crowned BWBL Champions 18 times, Belarusian teams won the title three times, Russian teams have triumphed twice and Latvian team once.
