Slightly belated congratulations from BallinEurope go out to the women of Elitzur Ramla for their recent coronation as 2011 FIBA Eurocup Women champions by dint of a 61-53 victory over Arras Pays d’Artois in France.
In the match, second leg in the two-game playoff format, Elitzur dug themselves an eight-point hole early but stormed back with a 20-2 run in the first half. Elitzur’s Laine Selwyn and Le’Coe Willingham led all scorers by contributing 15 points each. Teammate/Team Israel and former New York Liberty/University of Marylander Shay Doron accounted for 14, including 10 in the first half.
Israeli hoops pundits are welcoming home the squad while proudly noting Elitzur’s status as “the first Israeli women’s basketball team to lift a European title.”
Official FIBA Europe game writeup follows; apparently, no video of this final is really publicly available online…
(FIBA Europe) – Elitzur Ramla held on for a 61-53 triumph at Arras on Thursday night to win the EuroCup Women.
With the Finals knotted after the first leg in Israel, there was all to play for and Arras started strong, opening up a 13-5 lead by the end of the first quarter.
Adan Inbar’s side hit back with a vengeance in the second frame, however, outscoring the hosts 28-9 to take a 33-22 advantage to the changing rooms.
Israel international Shay Doron had 10 points at halftime for Ramla.
Arras stormed back and closed the gap to 45-41 by the end of the third quarter and they kept the pressure on in the fourth, but Ramla kept their noses in front to claim the biggest win in club history.
Laine Selwyn and Le’Coe Willingham each had 15 points for Ramla and Doron finished with 14. Doron and Willingham each had seven rebounds.
Arras were led by Pauline Akonga’s 13 points and seven boards with Olesia Malashenko contributing 10 points.
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