Premijer Liga Round 13 (Regular Season): Zadar Plus are upset by Rijeka

Here is the last round review presented by LBM Management.

The game between third ranked Zadar Plus (9-4) and seventh ranked Rijeka (6-7) was the most important one in the last round on Saturday night. Zadar Plus were defeated by Rijeka in a tough game in Rijeka 65-72. It ended at the same time the three-game winning streak of Zadar Plus. The former international guard Lina Strilic (174-2003) fired 25 points and 9 rebounds for the winners. Forward Ivona Krakic (188-1999, college: Georgian Court) chipped in 19 points, 7 rebounds and 4 assists. Rijeka's coach Teddy Delac used an eleven-player rotation which allowed the starters a little rest for the next games. American guard Asiah Dingle (165-2000, college: Fordham, agency: BIG) produced 24 points and 7 rebounds for lost side. Rijeka maintains seventh place with 6-7 record. Zadar Plus at the other side keep the third position with four games lost. They share it with Sibenik. Rijeka are looking forward to face higher ranked Sibenik (#3) on the road in the next round and it will be quite challenging to get another victory. Zadar Plus will play against the league's leader Tresnjevka having rather not much hope for a victory.
Undefeated leader Tresnjevka delivered the thirteenth consecutive victory. This time they crushed 11th ranked Medvescak (2-11) 67-41 in Zagreb. Worth to mention a great performance of guard Nina Novak (180-2005) who helped to win the game recording 13 points, 6 rebounds and 4 assists. Kiara Smith contributed with 11 points, 6 rebounds, 5 assists and 6 steals for the winners. Tresnjevka's coach Dean Nemec felt very confident using 10 players and allowed the starting five to rest. Guard Katarina Sekulic (175-2004) answered with 12 points and 8 rebounds for Medvescak. Undefeated Tresnjevka (13-0) have an impressive series of thirteen victories in a row. They maintain first place with a perfect record of 13 victories in a row. Medvescak lost third consecutive game. They keep the eleventh position with 11 games lost. They share it with Pula-Orca. Tresnjevka will play against Zadar Plus (#4) on the road in the next round. Medvescak's supporters look forward to an exciting derby game next round, where their team will face at home their local rival from Zagreb Pula-Orca.

Other games of round 13 were quite predictable and ended without any surprises. Here they are:
KAZL Split was defeated by Pozega in a road game 79-61. Bottom-ranked Pula-Orca was smashed by Brod na Savi at home 63-88. Zagreb lost to Ragusa on the opponent's court 69-86. Zadar unfortunately lost to Sibenik in a home game 99-107.
The best stats of 13th round was 26 points, 15 rebounds and 9 assists by Emilija Podrug of Zadar.

The Round Review is presented by LBM Management. A full-service agency focused on Women's basketball sphere and working worldwide. A global and ethical quality service.

Rijeka - Zadar Plus 72-65

The game between third ranked Zadar Plus (9-4) and seventh ranked Rijeka (6-7) was the most important one in the last round on Saturday night. Zadar Plus were defeated by Rijeka in a tough game in Rijeka 65-72. It ended at the same time the three-game winning streak of Zadar Plus. The former international guard Lina Strilic (174-2003) fired 25 points and 9 rebounds for the winners. Forward Ivona Krakic (188-1999, college: Georgian Court) chipped in 19 points, 7 rebounds and 4 assists. Four Rijeka players scored in double figures. Rijeka's coach Teddy Delac used an eleven-player rotation which allowed the starters a little rest for the next games. American guard Asiah Dingle (165-2000, college: Fordham, agency: BIG) produced 24 points and 7 rebounds and Bosnian swingman Sara Herceg (175-2001) added 13 points and 8 rebounds respectively for lost side. Rijeka maintains seventh place with 6-7 record. Zadar Plus at the other side keep the third position with four games lost. They share it with Sibenik. Rijeka are looking forward to face higher ranked Sibenik (#3) on the road in the next round and it will be quite challenging to get another victory. Zadar Plus will play against the league's leader Tresnjevka having rather not much hope for a victory.
Top scorers:
Zadar Plus: A.Dingle 24+7reb+3ast, S.Herceg 13+8reb+2ast, K.Trehub 11+8reb, N.Spaic 5+3reb, T.Diggs 4+3reb, M.Drazic 4+2reb
Rijeka: L.Strilic 25+9reb+3ast, I.Krakic 19+7reb+4ast, J.Tuftan 12+9reb+1ast, M.Masic 10+3reb+1ast, N.Brajac 5+5reb+6ast, E.Rexhepi 1+7reb

Pozega - KAZL Split 79-61

There was no surprise when 8th ranked KAZL Split (4-9) was defeated on the road by sixth ranked Pozega (7-6) 79-61. Pozega outrebounded KAZL Split 39-27 including a 28-12 advantage in defensive rebounds. Pozega players were unselfish on offense dishing 26 assists comparing to just 10 passes made by KAZL Split's players. Worth to mention a great performance of the former international forward Lea Miletic (184-1995) who helped to win the game recording a double-double by scoring 12 points, 14 rebounds and 9 assists. The former international forward Jelena Ivezic (183-1984) contributed with 18 points and 7 assists for the winners. Five Pozega players scored in double figures. Pozega's coach Vladimir Englman allowed to play the deep bench players saving starting five for next games. American forward Myah Taylor (178-1997, college: Bethel, TN) answered with 23 points, 5 rebounds, 4 assists and 4 steals and Serbian-Bosnian center Nikolina Zubac (189-1998) added 12 points and 7 rebounds in the effort for KAZL Split. Pozega moved-up to fifth place, which they share with Zagreb. KAZL Split at the other side keeps the eighth position with nine games lost. They share it with Zadar. Pozega will play against Brod na Savi (#10) in Slavonski Brod in the next round which should be theoretically an easy game. KAZL Split will play at home against the league's second-placed Ragusa and hopes to get back on the winning track.
Top scorers:
KAZL Split: M.Taylor 23+5reb+4ast, N.Zubac 12+7reb+2ast, G.Pirjak 9+3reb+2ast, K.Sokanovic 5+3reb, N.Bilic 4+2reb, I.Bosnjak 3+5reb+1ast
Pozega: J.Ivezic 18+2reb+7ast, E.Broermann 15+9reb+1ast, L.Packovski 15+6reb+5ast, L.Miletic 12+14reb+9ast, I.Ujevic 10+3reb+2ast, J.Zoric 4+3reb+2ast

Pula-Orca - Brod na Savi 63-88

Everything could happen in Zagreb at the game between two tied teams. Both tenth ranked Brod na Savi and 12th ranked Pula-Orca had identical 2-10 record. But Pula-Orca was not able to use a home court advantage and was smashed by the opponent from Slavonski Brod 88-63. Brod na Savi dominated down low during the game scoring 56 of its points in the paint compared to Pula-Orca's 32. Brod na Savi forced 31 Pula-Orca turnovers and outrebounded them 40-28 including a 18-7 advantage in offensive rebounds. Worth to mention a great performance of American guard Aliyah-Deen Ahmad (170-1998, college: FMU) who helped to win the game recording 30 points and 7 rebounds. Her fellow American import guard Taylor Langan (178, college: Rider) contributed with 17 points, 8 rebounds and 5 assists for the winners. Four Brod na Savi players scored in double figures. Bosnian guard Marija Vrdoljak (186-2005) answered with a double-double by scoring 14 points and 12 rebounds and swingman Ana Mise (175-2000) added 11 points and 5 rebounds in the effort for Pula-Orca. Pula-Orca's coach Ivan Djukic gave up on the game allowing to play ten players seeing no chance for a win. Brod na Savi maintains tenth place with 3-10 record. Pula-Orca lost tenth consecutive game. They stay at the bottom position with 11 games lost. They share it with Medvescak. Brod na Savi will play against higher ranked Pozega (#5) at home in the next round and it will be quite challenging to get another victory. Pula-Orca's supporters look forward to an exciting derby game next round, where their team will travel locally in Zagreb to the arena Medvescak.
Top scorers:
Pula-Orca: M.Vrdoljak 14+12reb+2ast, I.Pesut 11+5ast, A.Mise 11+5reb+1ast, A.Babic 8+3reb+1ast, M.Bucuk 7+5reb+2ast, J.Kapisoda 6+2reb+2ast
Brod na Savi: A.Ahmad 30+7reb+3ast, T.Langan 17+8reb+5ast, M.Sirovina 17+6reb+1ast, D.Burdick 15+9reb+3ast, E.Poljac 5+6reb+6ast, M.Lovric 4+2reb+2ast

Ragusa - Zagreb 86-69

Rather expected game in Dubrovnik where 5th ranked Zagreb (7-6) was defeated by second ranked Ragusa (12-1) 86-69. Ragusa forced 23 Zagreb turnovers. Their players were unselfish on offense dishing 22 assists. Worth to mention a great performance of the former international forward Iva Todoric (174-1993) who helped to win the game recording 27 points, 7 rebounds and 5 assists. The former international forward Lea Hajdin (181-1998, agency: BIG) contributed with 19 points and 5 assists for the winners. Four Ragusa players scored in double figures. Ragusa's coach Simona Soda allowed to play the deep bench players saving starting five for next games. Ukrainian Khrystyna Kulesha (185-2004) answered with 18 points and 8 rebounds and Lea Vukic (183-2007) added 16 points and 8 rebounds (made all of her ten free throws !!!) in the effort for Zagreb. Ragusa have an impressive series of seven victories in a row. Defending champion maintains second place with 12-1 record behind leader Tresnjevka. Zagreb at the other side keeps the fifth position with six games lost. They share it with Pozega. Ragusa will play against KAZL Split (#8) on the road in the next round which should be theoretically an easy game. Zagreb will play against Zadar and hopes to get back on the winning track.
Top scorers:
Zagreb: K.Kulesha 18+8reb+1ast, L.Vukic 16+8reb+1ast, H.Arnautovic 8+5reb+6ast, M.Boyd 8+3reb, L.Begonja 8+2reb, M.Savic 5+3reb
Ragusa: I.Todoric 27+7reb+5ast, L.Hajdin 19+3reb+5ast, C.Miloglav 12+5reb+4ast, S.Boyomo 10+4reb+3ast, N.Vuckovic 9+5reb+4ast, A.Sipka 7+4reb

Tresnjevka - Medvescak 67-41

Undefeated leader Tresnjevka delivered the thirteenth consecutive victory. This time they crushed 11th ranked Medvescak (2-11) 67-41 in Zagreb. Tresnjevka held Medvescak to an opponent 24.6 percent shooting from the field compared to 32.4 percent accuracy of the winners. Tresnjevka forced 23 Medvescak turnovers. Worth to mention a great performance of guard Nina Novak (180-2005) who helped to win the game recording 13 points, 6 rebounds and 4 assists. American guard Kiara Smith (178-1998, college: Florida) contributed with 11 points, 6 rebounds, 5 assists and 6 steals for the winners. Tresnjevka's coach Dean Nemec felt very confident using 10 players and allowed the starting five to rest. Guard Katarina Sekulic (175-2004) answered with 12 points and 8 rebounds and forward Marija Soldo (178-2001) added 7 points and 9 rebounds in the effort for Medvescak. Tresnjevka (13-0) have an impressive series of thirteen victories in a row. They maintain first place with a perfect record of 13 victories in a row. Medvescak lost third consecutive game. They keep the eleventh position with 11 games lost. They share it with Pula-Orca. Tresnjevka will play against Zadar Plus (#4) on the road in the next round. Medvescak's supporters look forward to an exciting derby game next round, where their team will face at home their local rival from Zagreb Pula-Orca.
Top scorers:
Medvescak: K.Sekulic 12+8reb+3ast, G.Grizelj 10+2reb+1ast, M.Soldo 7+9reb+2ast, J.Brkicic 4+9reb, I.Medic 3, L.Zelic 3+9reb+1ast
Tresnjevka: N.Novak 13+6reb+4ast, L.Bilic 12+6reb+1ast, K.Smith 11+6reb+5ast, D.Zaja 9+5reb, L.Marsic 7+3reb+3ast, V.Curic 6+5reb

Zadar - Sibenik 99-107

Very predictable result when fourth ranked Sibenik (9-4) beat on the road 9th ranked Zadar (4-9) 107-99. Sibenik made 20-of-26 charity shots (76.9 percent) during the game. They also forced 20 Zadar turnovers and had a 24-7 advantage in offensive rebounds. It was a very good performance for the former international forward Andjela Strize (177-1999) who helped to win the game recording a double-double by scoring 24 points, 8 rebounds, 11 assists and 4 steals. American guard Ariel Johnson (175-2000, college: LMU) contributed with a double-double by scoring 25 points and 14 rebounds for the winners. The former international center Emilija Podrug (190-1979) answered with a double-double by scoring 26 points, 15 rebounds and 9 assists (perfect from the field making all eleven shots !!!) and guard Lola Stipic (170-2008) added 25 points and 8 rebounds in the effort for Zadar. Both teams had four players each who scored in double figures. Sibenik moved-up to third place, which they share with Zadar Plus. Zadar lost their fourth game in a row. Newly promoted team dropped to the eighth position with nine games lost. They share it with KAZL Split. Sibenik will play against Rijeka (#7) at home in the next round. Zadar will play against Zagreb and it may be a tough game between close rivals.
Top scorers:
Zadar: E.Podrug 26+15reb+9ast, L.Stipic 25+8reb+2ast, T.Williams 14+4reb+4ast, T.Turic 12+2reb+4ast, M.Dobric 9+6reb+2ast, J.Zovko 7+4reb+2ast
Sibenik: T.Lawhorne 32+5reb, A.Johnson 25+14reb+2ast, A.Strize 24+8reb+11ast, D.Cipcic 14+13reb+5ast, N.Dzafic 7+4reb+1ast, M.Kaucic 3+1reb