Premijer Liga Round 18 (Regular Season): Medvescak win their first game

The Regular Season in Premijer Liga is slowly approaching the end. But there may be still some important changes in the final standings in the last 4 rounds. Here is the last round review presented by LBM Management.

Medvescak can celebrate finally their first win this season after 17 consecutive losses. They used home court advantage to defeat Split (1-17) 59-54 on Tuesday. Medvescak forced 20 Split turnovers. The best player for the winners was center Iva Medic (182-2008) who scored 17 points and 8 rebounds. Guard Marina Kusanovic (175-2008) chipped in 8 points, 8 rebounds, 7 assists and 7 steals. At the other side the best for losing team was guard Lara Pavela (175-2009) who recorded 20 points and 8 rebounds. Medvescak left bottom position moving up to eleventh place, which they share with defeated Split. It was Split's tenth loss in a row. Medvescak is looking forward to face higher ranked Zadar Plus (#10) at home in the next round and it may be quite challenging game. Split will play against the league's leader Brod na Savi where they are definitely not considered as a favorite in this game either.
Leader Brod na Savi delivered the seventeenth victory. This time they crushed 7th ranked Rijeka (9-9) 97-72 in Slavonski Brod. It ended at the same time the three-game winning streak of Rijeka. It was a good game for American guard Kiara Jackson (170-2003, college: UNLV) who led her team to a victory with 26 points, 5 rebounds and 5 assists. ELease Stafford contributed with 26 points and 7 rebounds for the winners. Brod na Savi's coach Drazen Rimarcuk felt very confident using 10 players which allowed the starters a little rest for the next games. Serbian power forward Marijana Zukanovic (189-1999, agency: Olsta) replied with a double-double by scoring 24 points and 14 rebounds for Rijeka. Brod na Savi (17-1) have an impressive 15-game winning streak. They maintain first position. Rijeka at the other side keeps the seventh place with nine games lost. Brod na Savi will play against bottom-ranked Split (#12) on the road in the next round which should be another easy win for them. Rijeka will play against Pozega (#6) and it may be a tough game between close rivals.
The game in Split was also quite interesting. Third ranked Sibenik (15-3) played at the court of 8th ranked KAZL Split (5-13). Sibenik defeated KAZL Split 90-77 on Sunday. Bendu Yeaney had a double-double by scoring 35 points (!!!), 10 rebounds and 6 assists to lead the charge for the winners. The best for the losing side was Aliyah-Deen Ahmad with a double-double by scoring 18 points, 11 rebounds and 7 assists. Sibenik have a solid three-game winning streak. They moved-up to second place, which they share with Tresnjevka. Loser KAZL Split keeps the eighth position with 13 games lost. They share it with Zadar. Sibenik will meet at home Tresnjevka (#3) in the next round, which may be the game of the day. KAZL Split will play against Zagreb (#4) and hope to secure a win.

Rest of the games of round 18 were quite predictable and ended without any surprises. Here they are:
Ragusa was defeated by Pozega in a road game 65-54. Zadar Plus were smashed by Tresnjevka at home 77-116. Zagreb destroyed Zadar on the opponent's court 82-62.

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KAZL Split - Sibenik 77-90

The game in Split was also quite interesting. Third ranked Sibenik (15-3) played at the court of 8th ranked KAZL Split (5-13). Sibenik defeated KAZL Split 90-77 on Sunday. They outrebounded KAZL Split 40-27 including 31 on the defensive glass. American guard Bendu Yeaney (178-1998, college: Oregon St.) had a double-double by scoring 35 points (!!!), 10 rebounds and 6 assists to lead the charge for the winners and the former international forward Andjela Strize (177-1999) chipped in 14 points, 7 rebounds and 8 assists during the contest. Four Sibenik players scored in double figures. The best for the losing side was American guard Aliyah-Deen Ahmad (170-1998, college: FMU) with a double-double by scoring 18 points, 11 rebounds and 7 assists and her fellow American import guard Lauren Wasylson (183, college: Duquesne) scored 24 points (perfect from downtown making all five shots). Sibenik have a solid three-game winning streak. They moved-up to second place, which they share with Tresnjevka. Loser KAZL Split keeps the eighth position with 13 games lost. They share it with Zadar. Sibenik will meet at home Tresnjevka (#3) in the next round, which may be the game of the day. KAZL Split will play against Zagreb (#4) and hope to secure a win.
Top scorers:
KAZL Split: L.Wasylson 24+3reb+3ast, S.Boric 20+4reb+4ast, A.Ahmad 18+11reb+7ast, S.Klara 9+5reb+1ast, P.Valerija 6+3reb+4ast, S.Marta 0+1reb+1ast
Sibenik: Y.Bendu 35+10reb+6ast, D.Kyierah 16+13reb, S.Andjela 14+7reb+8ast, J.Milkovic 14+2reb+2ast, P.Dragovic 6+6reb+2ast, M.Kaucic 3

Medvescak - Split 59-54

Medvescak can celebrate finally their first win this season after 17 consecutive losses. They used home court advantage to defeat Split (1-17) 59-54 on Tuesday. Medvescak forced 20 Split turnovers. The best player for the winners was center Iva Medic (182-2008) who scored 17 points and 8 rebounds. Guard Marina Kusanovic (175-2008) chipped in 8 points, 8 rebounds, 7 assists and 7 steals. At the other side the best for losing team was guard Lara Pavela (175-2009) who recorded 20 points and 8 rebounds and Iva Tabak (178-2009) added 9 points, 6 rebounds and 4 assists respectively. Medvescak left bottom position moving up to eleventh place, which they share with defeated Split. It was Split's tenth loss in a row. Medvescak is looking forward to face higher ranked Zadar Plus (#10) at home in the next round and it may be quite challenging game. Split will play against the league's leader Brod na Savi where they are definitely not considered as a favorite in this game either.
Top scorers:
Split: P.Lara 20+8reb+3ast, M.Bruna 9+1reb, T.Iva 9+6reb+4ast, M.Una 8+1reb+1ast, C.Lana 3+1reb+1ast, V.Emanuela 2+4reb
Medvescak: I.Medic 17+8reb+3ast, K.Sekulic 12+9reb+1ast, L.Hajpetar 12+4reb, M.Kusanovic 8+8reb+7ast, L.Aljinovic 5+2reb+1ast, L.Zelic 5+3reb+1ast

Pozega - Ragusa 65-54

We cannot really consider it an upset in the game between close teams when 5th ranked Ragusa (11-6) was defeated on the road by sixth ranked Pozega (10-8) 65-54 on Saturday. Guard Gabriela Grizelj (172-2001) scored 25 points, 6 rebounds and 4 assists to lead the charge for the winners and the former international forward Lea Miletic (184-1995) chipped in 16 points and 11 rebounds during the contest. The best for the losing side was the former international forward Iva Todoric (174-1993) with 12 points, 9 rebounds, 8 assists and 6 steals and naturalized Serbian Nevena Vuckovic (177-1998) scored 16 points. Pozega maintains sixth position with 10-8 record. Defending champion Ragusa keeps the fifth place with six games lost. Pozega will meet Rijeka (#7) on the road in the next round. Ragusa will play against Zadar and hope to secure a win.
Top scorers:
Ragusa: N.Vuckovic 16+2reb+1ast, I.Todoric 12+9reb+8ast, C.Miloglav 8+1reb+4ast, A.Meite 8+6reb, D.Cipcic 5+9reb, L.Strilic 5+1reb+2ast
Pozega: G.Grizelj 25+6reb+4ast, M.Lea 16+11reb, J.Macie 13+10reb+3ast, J.Brkicic 6+3reb+1ast, L.Basic 3+1ast, P.Ana 2+2reb+3ast

Zadar Plus - Tresnjevka 77-116

No shocking result in a game when third ranked Tresnjevka (15-3) smashed on the road 10th ranked Zadar Plus (4-13) 116-77 on Sunday. Tresnjevka forced 32 Zadar Plus turnovers. They looked well-organized offensively handing out 27 assists comparing to just 9 passes made by Zadar Plus' players. Great defensive blocking was one of the keys in this match when Tresnjevka made 7 blocks. Portuguese guard Rita Oliveira (165-2000) scored 23 points and 6 assists to lead the charge for the winners and the former international center Ana Vojtulek (190-1999) chipped in 16 points and 8 rebounds during the contest. The best for the losing side was American guard Jalia Arnwine (183-1999, agency: Dagger Basket) with 27 points, 7 rebounds and 5 assists and her fellow American import center Brooke Flowers (195-2000, college: St.Louis) produced a double-double by scoring 12 points and 18 rebounds. Five Tresnjevka and four Zadar Plus players scored in double figures. Tresnjevka have a solid four-game winning streak. They moved-up to second place, which they share with Sibenik. Loser Zadar Plus keep the tenth position with 13 games lost. Tresnjevka will meet league's second-placed Sibenik on the road in the next round and it will be for sure the game of the week. Zadar Plus will play against Medvescak (#11) in Zagreb and it may be a tough game between close rivals.
Top scorers:
Zadar Plus: J.Arnwine 27+7reb+5ast, H.Sara 22+4reb+1ast, B.Flowers 12+18reb+1ast, C.Turner 10+4reb, D.Magdalena 4+1reb+1ast, S.Marija 2+3reb
Tresnjevka: O.Rita 23+4reb+6ast, V.Curic 22+3reb, V.Ana 16+8reb+2ast, N.Novak 12+2reb+6ast, K.Skare 12+1reb+1ast, H.Sara 10+6reb+5ast

Zadar - Zagreb 62-82

Very expected game when 9th ranked Zadar (5-13) was rolled over at home by fourth ranked Zagreb (14-4) 82-62 on Sunday. Zagreb outrebounded Zadar 46-34 including 34 on the defensive glass. Zagreb looked well-organized offensively handing out 23 assists comparing to just 9 passes made by Zadar's players. Lithuanian power forward Laura Zelnyte (193-1994) had a double-double by scoring 16 points, 14 rebounds and 6 assists to lead the charge for the winners and the former international forward Lea Hajdin (183-1998) chipped in 18 points and 6 rebounds during the contest. Four Zagreb players scored in double figures. The best for the losing side was guard Lola Stipic (170-2008) with 23 points and 6 rebounds and American Sam Deem (185-2001, college: Regis Univ.) scored 15 points and 8 rebounds (went 8 for 8 at the free throw line). Zagreb maintains fourth position with 14-4 record. Zadar lost fourth consecutive game. They dropped to the eighth place with 13 games lost. They share the position with KAZL Split. Zagreb will meet at home KAZL Split (#8) in the next round. Zadar will play against Ragusa in Dubrovnik and hope to secure a win.
Top scorers:
Zadar: S.Lola 23+6reb+3ast, S.Deem 15+8reb+2ast, M.Karla 10+9reb+1ast, L.Jelena 7+2reb+1ast, V.Marta 3, K.Kuzmanovic 2+2reb
Zagreb: H.Lea 18+6reb+2ast, Z.Laura 16+14reb+6ast, D.Dragana 15+5reb+5ast, H.Arnautovic 10+9reb+2ast, P.Lana 9+7reb+7ast, A.Stankovic 9+3reb

Brod na Savi - Rijeka 97-72

Leader Brod na Savi delivered the seventeenth victory. This time they crushed 7th ranked Rijeka (9-9) 97-72 in Slavonski Brod. It ended at the same time the three-game winning streak of Rijeka. Brod na Savi forced 20 Rijeka turnovers. Their players were unselfish on offense dishing 21 assists. It was a good game for American guard Kiara Jackson (170-2003, college: UNLV) who led her team to a victory with 26 points, 5 rebounds and 5 assists. The other American import swingman ELease Stafford (183-1999, college: UMKC) contributed with 26 points and 7 rebounds for the winners. Brod na Savi's coach Drazen Rimarcuk felt very confident using 10 players which allowed the starters a little rest for the next games. Serbian power forward Marijana Zukanovic (189-1999, agency: Olsta) replied with a double-double by scoring 24 points and 14 rebounds and the former international guard Nerea Brajac (173-1999, college: Georgian Court, agency: Olsta) added 15 points and 5 assists in the effort for Rijeka. Both teams had four players each who scored in double figures. Brod na Savi (17-1) have an impressive 15-game winning streak. They maintain first position. Rijeka at the other side keeps the seventh place with nine games lost. Brod na Savi will play against bottom-ranked Split (#12) on the road in the next round which should be another easy win for them. Rijeka will play against Pozega (#6) and it may be a tough game between close rivals.
Top scorers:
Rijeka: M.Zukanovic 24+14reb+2ast, N.Brajac 15+4reb+5ast, A.Konjevic 13+5reb+2ast, B.Dorotea 10+5reb+1ast, J.Magdalena 6+3reb+2ast, S.Nera 2+3reb+1ast
Brod na Savi: E.Stafford 26+7reb+1ast, J.Kiara 26+5reb+5ast, T.Ugass 20+8reb+1ast, S.Milica 15+8reb+1ast, K.Rimarcuk 6+1reb+6ast, A.Ilakovac 2+1reb+1ast