USVO Take Game one after a Good nights Work by Sandrine Gruda

Bourges perfect home record for the season went tonight in a match that lived up to it tradition of past battles between the two clubs. Pierre Vincent demonstrated why he has been voted French coach of the year 2007, even without his captain Celine Dumerc and Vicki Hall, his team held on for 36 minute (55:55) with grit and determination. However USVO finished the match stronger on top of 9:0 with the first six points coming from Sandrine Gruda.

Before the match started the talk was about who was missing and who was not fit. USVO will be without Emmanuelle Hermouet for the rest of the series after she damaged knee ligaments on Sunday. Bourges had to wait on the result of a late fitness test for Evanthia Maltsi before naming their final line-up.

Bourges 55 - 64 Valenciennes (14:14, 21:16,10:17,10:17)

Sandrine Gruda was the star of the page, she scored USVO's first six-points in her first period haul of 8-points and she also scored 7 of the last 9 points of the evening as she finished with 21 points, 7 rebounds and 3 assists.

USVO quickly into their stride moved into an early lead (10-4) but were not able to sustain the pressure and allowed Bourges back into the match and the score was tied (14-14) after the first period. The Trio Maltsi, Sonja Kireta and Endéne Miyem piled on the pressure and Bourges opened up a lead (21-28)
mid way through the second period. Emile Gomis hit back with 5-points in consecutive plays before Kristi Harrower tied the game (28-28). Bourges still found the resource and energy to go back in front and went into the break with a five point lead thanks to Maltsi burying a 3 seconds before the end.

USVO took time to settle in the 3rd period and Bourges continued to lead (36-41) at the mid way point of the quarter. Krissy Bade then started the USVO charge as she hit 3-pointer to start a 9-0 run that put them back in front (45-41). Florence Lepron quiet until now drew a couple of fouls tied the game after two trips to the free throw line.

USVO went into the final period leading by 2 points but still found difficult to put Bourges away. After an intense battle that saw the game tied four times and two lead changes Sandrine Gruda took things into he own hands. With just over four minutes left and the score tied (55-55) she scored the next 6-points and all of a sudden Bourges looked tired. Pierre Vincent called a late timeout to try and safe the game but nothing worked and USVO made three trips to the free throw-line and scored 1-point on each trip to take the game.

Sandrine Gruda top scored with 21-points but she was well supported by Gomis (15pts) and Bade (12pts). Kristi Harrower had another solid game with 8pts, 11rebounds and 5 assists.

For Bourges Evathia Maltsi had 15-points and 5 assists, Miyem, Lepron and Kireta all finished with 10 points each. Kireta finished with game high 14 rebounds.